OF  THE 


LONGI^EGATIONAL   L/HURCH 


IN 


Killingworth,  Connecticut, 


MAY  :tl,   1870. 


P,Y    REV.    WILLIAM    MILLER. 


c  to    it)  a  b  c  n  : 

ft  •* 


FROM  PRESS  OF  HOGGSON  &  ROBINSOX. 

1870. 


Killingworth,  Connecticut, 


MAY  31,  187O. 


BY    REV.    WILLIAM    MILLER. 


fleto 

FROM  PRESS  OF  HOGGSON  &  ROBINSON. 

1870. 


- 


Preliminary    Meeting. 


Ax  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Killingworth,  April  14,  1870, 
it  was  voted  to  observe  with  appropriate  religious  services  May 
31st,  1870,  it  being  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  dedication  of 
the  church  edifice. 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Nathan  II.  Evarts,  Mr.  Francis  Turner, 
Dea,  Lauren  Nettleton,  Mr.  Orlando  E.  Redfield,  and  Mr.  E. 
Harvey  Parrnelee,  be  the  committee  of  arrangements. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  committee,  Mr.  Francis  Turner  was 
chosen  Secretary. 

It  was  votc-d  to  invite  Rev.  William  Miller,  to  prepare  and 
deliver  a  historical  discourse  of  the  Church  in  Killingworth, 
May  31st,  1870. 

Voted,  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyman  Stevens  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Randolph  Stevens  ;  Mr.  Francis  Turner  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Phelps  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ambrose  Parmelee  ;  Mrs.  Abner  Lane ; 
Mrs.  Ellsworth  Hull ;  Mr.  J.  Harvey  Lane,  and  Miss  Mary  Lane, 
be  a  committee  to  superintend  the  tables. 

FRANCIS  TURNER,  Secretary. 


At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  committee  it  was  voted,  to 
return  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Rev.  William  Miller,  for  his  able  his- 
torical discourse,  delivered  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
dedication  of  the  chiuvh  edifice,  and  that  a  copy  of  the  same  be 
requested  for  publication. 

Voted,  that  a  report  of  the  exercises  of  the  day  be  also 
published  with  the  address. 

FRANCIS  TURNER,  Secretory. 


2012478 


DECORATIONS. 


It  is  proverbial,  that  the  ladies  of  Killingworth  do  well 
whatever  they  undertake  to  do.  Their  taste  is  correct,  so  that 
they  have  only  to  put  their  fingers  to  the  flowers  and  evergreens, 
and  they  stand  forth  fashioned  into  "  a  thing  of  beauty." 

The  following  ladies  were  appointed  to  superintend  the  de- 
corations of  the  church :  Mrs.  William  Miller,  Mrs.  Francis 
Turner,  Mrs.  Andrew  Griswold,  Mrs.  Orlando  E.  Iledfield,  Mrs. 
Ralph  Barnuin,  and  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Williams. 

The  Church  stands  upon  a  hill,  commands  a  wide  prospect, 
and  is  sixty-two  feet  long,  and  forty-eight  wide.  At  the  east  end 
is  a  recess  for  the  pulpit  and  platform.  There  is  a  gallery  on 
three  sides  of  the  house,  around  the  front  of  which  were  festooned 
evergreen  wreaths.  At  equi-distances  were  set  upon  the  cornice 
of  the  gallery  front  bouquets  of  flowers,  and  between  them  the 
names  of  the  pastors  of  the  church.  Their  names  were  formed  of 
evergreen  letters,  with  the  date  of  installation  made  in  the  same 
manner  underneath,  the  whole  surrounded  by  an  evergreen 
border. 

Beginning  at  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  the  names  were  as  follows: 
Seward,   1738;    Ely,   1782;    Andrews,   1802;    King,   1811; 
Swift,   1833;  Bell,   1850;  Lyman,   1S66. 

In  front  of  the  pulpit  was  the  name  of  the  present  acting 
pastor, — Miller,  1870.  Around  the  name  was  a  wreath  of  flowers, 
wrought  by  Miss  Anna  Marsh  ;  and  around  the  whole  a  more  ex- 
tensive wreath  of  flowers,  wrought  by  Mrs.  Stephen  Norton. 
Upon  one  side  of  the  desk  was  a  iuschia  in  full  bloom,  and  on  the 
other  side  a  cactus,  full  of  beautiful  blossoms.  At  the  right  of 
the  pulpit  \vas  an  oil  painting  of  Dr.  Asahel  Xettleton,  a  native 
of  the  town.  Over  and  under  it  were  his  dying  words,  "  While 
ye  have  the  light,  walk  in  the  light." 

At  the  left  of  the  pulpit  was  a  large  evergreen  cross,  with 
flowers  interwoven,  wrought  by  Miss  Lucynthia  Crampton ;  over 
and  under  it  were  words — the  whole  designed  to  read — "  Cling 
to  the  Cross  of  Christ." 

Over  the  arched  top  of  the  recess  was  an  evergreen  wreath, 
wrought  by  Mrs.  Antionette  Lord  ;  and  at  the  cornice  of  the  pil- 


lars,  two  wreaths  ;  cue  of  which  surrounded  the  date,  1820,  and 
the  other  the  date  of  1870,  these  were  connected  by  a  chain,  the 
links  of  which  were  made  of  evergreen  leaves.  This  was  wrought 
by  Miss  Julia  A.  Turner. 

Upon  the  rear  wall  of  the  pulpit,  in  the  recess,  were  the  fol- 
lowing inscriptions  formed  of  letters  made  of  Arbor  Vitae  : 

"Church  Organized,  January  18,  1738." 
"  House  Dedicated,  May  31,  1820." 

Not  the  ladies  only,  but  the  young  gentlemen  took  an  active 
part  in  the  work.  They  were  ready  at  any  point  to  lend  a  help- 
ing hand.  J.  NovelloHull,  Horatio  Kelsey,  Densmore  Parmelee, 
Sylvester  Hull,  and  others,  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  as  to  the 
amount  of  assistance  they  could  render. 

Let  us  not  forbear  to  express  our  warmest  thanks  to  our  be- 
loved pastor,  Rev.  William  Miller,  for  his  excellent  Historical 
Discourse.  The  facts  he  has  brought  to  light — indicating  great 
labor  and  research — and  laid  before  us  in  a  manner  so  interesting, 
will  be  of  great  use  to  us,  and  to  our  children  after  us.  He  has 
made  us  acquainted  with  the  active  labors  of  those  who  have 
gone  before  us,  and  who  were  instrumental  in  laying  the  found- 
ations of  our  religious  institutions.  We  have  seen,  as  it  were, 
their  dust  animated  again.  They  seemed  to  be  in  the  midst  of 
us,  inspiring  us  witli  their  spirit,  and  beckoning  us  onward  to 
nobler  deeds. 


ANNIVERSARY    SERVICES. 


On  the  31st  of  May,  1870,  a  most  delightful  day,  the  Con- 
gregational Church  and  Society  in  Killingworth,  celebrated  with 
appropriate  religious  exercises  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 
dedication  of  their  Church  Edifice.  The  occasion  brought  to- 
gether a  large  concourse  of  people.  The  house  was  filled  to  its 
utmost  capacity,  and  many  stood  around  the  doors  and  windows, 
unable  to  gain  admittance. 

Some  took  their  seats  full  three-fourths  of  an  hour  before  the 
opening  of  the  services.  The  people  flocked  from  all  the  neigh- 
boring towns,  literally  filling  the  streets  with  carriages.  So 
large  an  assembly  never  before  was  gathered  on  Killingworth 
Hill. 

The  elderly  persons  took  their  seats  below,  while  "the  youth 
and  beauty"  filled  the  spacious  galleries. 

'  The  services  were  opened  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M. 

The  Choir,  under  the  direction  of  Dea.  J.  Buell,  sung  a  song 
of  welcome  from  the  platform  in  front  of  the  pulpit. 

Mr.  Nathan  H.  Evarts,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangement,  bade  all  welcome.  He  said,  it  had  been  designed 
to  send  invitations  to  those  who  had  left  town,  but  they  were 
found  to  be  so  many  that  only  a  general  invitation  could  be  given. 
He  extended  a  hearty  welcome  to  all,  to  the  former  residents  and 
natives  of  the  town,  to  those  whose  ancestors  had  resided  here,  to 
our  friends  from  neighboring  towns,  to  citizens,  and  all  others, 
old  or  young,  who  had  come  up  to  enjoy  with  tis  the  festivities 
of  the  day. 

Invocation  and  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  by  Rev.  S.  Hine, 
of  Higganum. 

Singing — Hymn  composed  by  Mr.  E.  H.  Parmelee. 

1.  O  thou  to  whom  we  pray, 
Help  us  on  this  glad  day, 
Thy  praise  to  sing — 
O  let  the  Heavenly  Dove, 
Descending  from  above, 
Fill  all  our  hearts  with  love 
Great  God  our  King 


2.  Our  fathers  worshipped  thee ; 
Now  may  our  offerings  be, 

Like  theirs  received — 
Here  iu  this  sacred  place, 
They  sought  thy  heavenly  grace, 
Hoping  to  see  thy  face, 

In  thee  believed. 


3.  This  temple  here  they  reared  ; 
Here  they  thy  named  revered, 

And  loved  thy  praise  ; 
Now  in  thy  courts  above, 
They  sing  thy  dying  love, 
And  all  thy  will  approve, 

In  heavenly  lays. 

4.  We  celebrate  this  day, 
And  here  we  humbly  pray, 

Grant  us  thy  grace ; 
As  we  together  meet, 
To  worship  at  thy  feet, 
And  here  our  kindred  greet, 

Hide  not  thy  face. 

5.  When  we  our  race  have  run, 
And  all  our  work  is  done, 

And  we  must  die  ; 
May  we  thy  goodness  prove, 
Bear  us  on  wings  of  love, 
Up  to  thy  courts  above, 

To  dwell  on  high. 


Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  John  Todd,  D.  D.,  of  Pittsfield,. 
Mass. 

Discourse. 

Anthera  sung  by  the  choir  who  sang  the  same  at  the  dedi- 
«ation  of  the  house.1 

Discourse  finished. 

Singing,  by  "ye  ancient  choir,"  the  132  Psalm,  let  part — 
gong  fifty  years  ago. 

Prayer. 


8 
Hymn,  written  for  the  occasion,  by  John  Marsland 


To-day,  O  God,  in  love  draw  near, 
And  bless  thy  saints  assembled  here  ; 
Humbly  we  bow  before  thy  throne, 
To  praise  the  Father,  Spirit,  Son. 

We  praise  thee  for  thy  wondrous  love ; 
By  it  we  live,  by  it  we  move ; 
O  may  we  give  to  thee  alone 
All  glory  for  thy  mercies  shown. 

Again  to  thee,  this  house  we  give ; 
Here  let  thy  blessed  spirit  live ; 
May  all  that  in  this  place  is  done, 
Honor  thy  name,  thou  Three  in  One. 

Of  those  who  first  did  consecrate 
This  house  to  thee,  as  heaven's  gate  ; 
Many  are  in  the  world  of  bliss, 
A  few  are  travelling  yet  in  this. 

May  we  the  race  to  glory  rim ; 
And  when  our  work  on  earth  is  done, 
Sing  on  heaven's  peaceful,  shining  shore, 
Anthems  of  praise  for  ever-more. 


Historical    Discourse. 


"  I  will  utter — sayings  of  old,  which  we  have  heard, 

and  known,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us." — Ps.  7S  :  :2,  ']. 

HISTORY  is  a  knowledge  of  past  events.  In  the  study  of  it 
we  find  much  to  attract,  amuse,  and  interest.  It  is  attractive, 
because  it  represents  the  ever  changing  scenes  of  life,  whether 
simple,  as  that  of  individuals,  or  combined,  as  that  of  nations.  It 
is  amusing,  because  it  gives  scope  for  the  play  of  the  imagination, 
and  because  the  passions  and  actions  of  men  are  brought  out  more 
distinctly  than  in  the  drama.  It  is  instructive,  because  it  points 
out  the  errors  and  mistakes  of  men,  arid  hence  we  are  taught  to 
guard  against  them,  and  also  what  course  to  be  pursued  in  order 
to  attain  to  virtue  and  position. 

Hence  History  has  been  styled,  "  Philosophy  teaching  by 
example."  In  other  words,  we  may  learn  from  history  what  to 
shun,  and  what  to  cultivate,  in  order  to  success  in  life — the  life 
of  individuals,  or  of  nations. 

The  sources  of  history  are — sayings  of  old — which  we  have 
heard  and  known,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us  ;  and  the  written 
record.  I  have  made  diligent  inquiry  of  the  fathers  respecting 
what  they  have  heard  of  their  fathers,  and  what  they  themselves 
have  known. 

The  Records,  too,  have  been  closely  examined. 

The  history  of  this  church  is  full  of  interest,  and  it  would 
require  more  time  than  is  allotted  to  me  this  morning  to  present 
it  in  its  detail. 

I  may  pass  over  many  important  facts,  but  shall  endeavor 
to  gather  up  the  chief  of  them  and  present  them  in  the  following 
discourse. 

I  shall  begin  with  a  brief  sketch  of  the  town,  (for  Killing- 
worth  included  Clinton  till  1838,)  in  order  to  show  the  rise  of 


10 

this,  as  nearly  all  the  first  inhabitants  of  this  place  came  from 
the  South  Church,  or  parish.     • 

The  Hammonassetts  were  a  tribe  of  Indians  that  lived  be- 
tween the  Aigicomock — now  East  River — and  the  Connecticut. 
It  was  not  a  numerous  tribe.  They  lived,  mostly,  near  the 
shore,  but  roamed  over  these  hills  as  their  hunting  grounds. 

The  name  of  their  Sachem  was  Sebaquanash,  or,  "  the  man 
that  weeps." 

Uncas,  Sachem  of  the  Mohegans,  married  his  daughter,  and 
came  into  possession  of  all  the  lands  lying  between  the  Aigico- 
mock and  the  Connecticut. 

He  sold  to  the  town  of  Guilford  all  the  land  west  of  the 
Harnmonassett  River,  Dec.  27th,  1641.  Upon  this,  a  large  part 
of  the  tribe  passed  over  to  the  east  side  of  the  Connecticut. 

There  were  but  few  Indians  here  when  the  first  planters 
were  entered  in  1663.  The  settlement  was  called  by  the  name 
of  Hammonassett  Plantation  till  1667,  when  it  took  the  name 
of  Killingworth,  after  a  town  of  the  same  name  in  Norwich- 
shire,  England. 

The  first  settlers  were  disposed  to  treat  the  Indians  kindly, 
and  honorably  purchase  whatever  land  they  needed,  as  the  fol- 
lowing record  of  conveyance  will  show. 

"  These  Presents  Witness,  that  I,  Uncas,  Sachem  Mohegan, 
have  hereby  sold  unto  Mr.  George  Fenwick  a  considerable  par- 
cel of  the  land,  now  lying  within  the  bounds  of  the  Town  of 
Killing\vorth  :  we,  Woncas,  and  Josuah  my  son,  do  by  these 
Presents  alienate,  assign,  and  pass  over  forever  all  our  Right 
and  Interest  whatsoever,  in  any  or  all  of  the  land,  lying  within 
the  bound  and  limit  of  the  Town  of  Killingworth  to  the  inhab- 
itants there,  which  I  have  not  formerly  sold  unto  Mr.  George 
Fenwick,  and  we  do  by  these  Presents  ratify  and  confirm  this 
sale  to  the  said  Inhabitants  of  Killingworth — them — their  heirs, 
or  assigns,  to  have  and  to  hold,  enjoy  and  possess  forever,  free 
from  any  molestation  by  either  of  us,  Woncas  or  Josuah,  or  any 
other  person,  or  persons  from,  by,  or  under  us,  only  as  we  reserve 
six  acres  of  land  on  the  great  Hammock,  four  acres  about  the 
middle  of  the  Hammock,  and  the  other  two  acres,  at  the  east 
end  of  the  Hammock,  of  the  best  of  the  land  there,  and  also  free 
liberty  to  hunt  in  the  woods,  and  fis"h  in  the  rivers  and  harbors,. 


11 


and  to  make  of  any  trees  for  canoes ;  and  rushes  and  flaggs  to 
make  mats, — and  for  the  true  performance  hereof,  we  have  inter- 
changeably set  to  our  hand,  this  present  November  26,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  1(H>!) 


Mark  of   L-J^     WONKAS. 


Mark  of       C  ' — v    Jos  UAH,  his  son. 

Witness  : 

HENRY  CRANE, 

NATHAN  KELSEY. 

Notwithstanding,  in  these  early  days  the  planters  suffered 
many  privations,  and  were  exposed  to  many  dangers. 

The  Indians  still  hovered  round,  prowling  as  beasts  of  prey. 
This  is  evident  from  the  following  record  : 

"  At  a  Town  Meeting,  March  23,  1675-6  : 

"  It  was  voted  and  agreed  upon,  that  there  shall  be  two 
common  fortifications  made  in  the  town  for  places  of  defence ; 
and,  it  was  also  voted  and  agreed  upon,  that  these  places  for  for- 
tification shall  be  at  Mr.  Woodbridge's — the  first  Pastor  of  the 
South  Church — and  at  Andrew  Ward's  :  further,  it  was  also  voted 
and  agreed  upon,  that  Mr.  Woodbridge  and  the  townsmen,  until 
a  Commission  be  chosen,  shall  appoint  when  the  persons  in  the 
Town  shall  come  into  these  fortifications,  and  that  they  will  be 
subject  thereto,  and  it  was  also  voted,  that  these  fortifications 
shall  be  made  by  equal  proportions  by  the  male  persons  from 
fifteen  years  of  age  and  upwards  ;  and  it  was  also  agreed  upon, 
that  these  fortifications  shall  be  sufficiently  made  and  finished 
within  a  fortnight-time,  and  Mr.  Griswold  and  Win.  Stevens  are 
chosen  as  a  committee  for  to  appoint  how  this  shall  be  done,  and 
to  lay  out  the  proportions." 

There  must  have  been  some  immediate  apparent  danger,  or 
such  haste  and  precaution  would  not  have  been  required.  Prob- 
ably what  gave  occasion  for  these  apprehensions  was  the  breaking 
out  of  King  Phillip's  War,  or  the  roaming  of  Indian  scouts, 
plundering  wherever  they  coxild  meet  with  the  defenceless  inhab- 
itants. But  there  was  no  attack,  or  more  serious  alarm.  The 
danger  was  quickly  over,  and  all  was  calm  again. 


12 

u  At  a  Town  Meeting,  Apr.  ye  7th,  A.  D.  1676  : 

"  It  was  voted  and  agreed  upon,  that  there  shall  be  no  land 
let  or  hired  ont  to  any  Indian,  or  Indians,  within  the  limits  of  this 
town,  for  the  year,  under  the  penalty  of  twenty  shillings  for  each 
acre  so  hired  out." 

The  Planters  were  not  only  sturdy  men — able  and  willing 
to  defend  themselves,  but  they  were  Christian  men ; — and  hence 
their  first  object  was  to  "  erect  a  Meeting  House,"  and  settle  a 
godly  minister.  The  first  Pastor  of  Killingworth — now  Clinton 
— was  Rev.  John  Woodbridge. 

He  remained  twelve  years  with  his  people,  and  then  resigned, 
for  reasons  which,  at  the  present  time,  are  not  known.  The  next 
fifteen  years  the  church  was  without  an  undershepherd.  Divis- 
ions sprung  up  which  rendered  the  prospects  of  the  church 
gloomy.  At  last  God  sent  them  one,  who  should  unite  them, 
gaining  their  love  and  confidence. 

Abram  Pierson  was  the  second  Pastor :  "  a  man  around 
whose  character  and  history  the  shadows  of  more  than  a  century 
and  a  half  have  gathered,  but  who  has  still  left  memorials  enough 
of  his  honorable  and  useful  career  to  secure  immortality." 

He  was  appointed  1  Jet-tor  of  Yale  College.  Under  him  the 
first  six  classes  graduated.  A  monument  now  marks  the  place 
"  near  which  was  given  the  first  instruction  under  the  authority 
and  protection  of  the  College." 

He  died  1707.  About  the  time  of  his  death  the  first  settlers 
came  north.  The  stream  began  to  divide,  flowing  on  in  the  same 
direction,  but  in  two  different  channels. 

(The  History  of  the  South,  or  "  ye  ancient  Church,"  my 
friend,  Rev.  Win.  E.  Brooks,  has  ably  given  in  his  Two  Hun- 
dredth Anniversary  Discourse,  Nov.  13,  1867.) 

Parting  from  the  thread  of  his  discourse  at  this  point,  I  take 
the  northern  stream  which  flowed  over  these  hills  and  through 
these  valleys. 

At  what  precise  time  this  part  of  the  town  began  to  be  set- 
led  I  have  not  boeu  able  to  ascertain.  It  must  have  been  soon 
after  1700,  for  in  1716,  the  following  families  were  here,  viz.  : 
Isaac  Kelsey,  Esq.,  Dea.  Joseph  Wilcox,  Dea.  Josiah  Hull,  Dea. 
Daniel  Buel,  John  Wilcox,  Joseph  (iriswold,  Nathaniel  Parni- 
elee,  EbeneKer  Hull,  Samuel  Stevens,  and  Edward  Rutty.8 


13 

These  were  soon  joined  by  Solomon  Davis,  Timothy  Chitted- 
xlen,  and  Theophilus  Kcdfield.  Others  followed  ;  all  church-going 
and  church-loving  people.  This  is  evident  from  their  attendance 
at  the  first  or  South  Church — a  distance  of  from  five  to  eight 

O 

miles — and  also  from  the  fact,  that  as  soon  as  there  was  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  inhabitants,  they  formed  themselves  into  a  parish, 
or  North  Society.  How  early  this  people  contemplated  the  for- 
mation of  a  distinct  society,  cannot  be  ascertained.  Certain  it 
was  before  1728,  for, 

"  At  a  town  Meeting,  Dee.  12,  1728  : 

''Lieut.  Joseph  Wilcox,  Capt.  David  Buel,  Capt.  .losiah 
Stevens,  Josiah  Baldwin,  and  Justice  Abram  Pierson  were 
chosen  a  Committee  to  confer  with  our  Northern  Neighbors — 
the  farmers — respecting  sd  farmers  embodying  themselves  by 
themselves,  for  the  Public  worship,  and  to  consider  where  it  may 
be  most  commodious  and  reasonable  for  a  line  to  be  run  between 
sd  farmers  and  the  rest  of  the  town." 

Meanwhile  it  appears  that  the  farmers  had  sent  a  petition  to 
the  General  Assembly,  for, 

"May  7,  1730,  Lieut.  Joseph  Wilcox  and  Jonathan  Lane, 
were  chosen  and  appointed  agents  for  the  Town  to  appear  at  the 
General  Assembly  at  their  session  in  May,  the  19  instant,  and 
there  to  object  against  the  Memorial  of  divers  of  the  inhabitants 
of  sd  Killingworth,  commonly  called  Killingworth  Farmers ; 
requesting  that  Killingworth  may  be  divided  into  two  distinct 
societies,  and  there  to  show  to  the  General  Assembly,  the  un- 
reasonableness of  sd  Memorial." 

No  record  is  made  of  the  success  of  this  committee,  while 
it  seems  certain  that  the  Memorial  was  not  granted  at  this  time  : 
for, 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Farmers  in   Killingworth,  Sept.  ye  , 
18th  Day,  A.  D.,  1730: 

"It  was  agreed  that  we,  the  subscribers,  would  again  ask 
the  Town  of  sd  Killingworth,  that  there  may  be  a  line  between 
us  and  the  sd  town  in  order  to  our  being  a  society  with  the 
rest  of  our  neighbors,  for  the  reasons  hereinafter  mentioned  : 
first,  we  would  humbly  suggest  that  our  best  interests  are  much 
exposed  for  want  of  it,  for,  if  faith  comes  by  hearing  of  the  word 
preached,  then  hearing  of  the  word  preached  is  necessary,  and, 


14 

if  faith  be  a  principal  qualification  in  order  to  justification,  and, 
if  faith  comes  by  hearing  the  word  preached,  then  we  hope  no 
good  man  will  deny  our  prayer;  and,  if  we  cannot  be  a  society, 
we  cannot  hear  the  word  preached  but  seldom,  and  so  have  not 
the  means  in  order  to  faith  which  makes  our  case  lamentable, 
which  makes  us  pray  for  relief,  and  pray  that  a  Committee  may- 
be chosen  by  you  to  settle  a  line  as  above  said,  and  your  Memo- 
rialists as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

JOSEPH  WILCOX, 
DANIEL  BUEL, 
NATHANIEL  PARMELEE. 
TIMOTHY  CHITTENDEN, 
THEOPPIILUS  REDFIELD, 
and  sixteen  others.3 

The  following  is  the  result : 

"  At  a  Town  Meeting,  Dec.  ye  4th,  1730  : 

"The  within  Petition  was  granted,  respecting  the  choosing 
a  Committee,  and  the  Town  will  defray  the  charge  of  the  work 
that  shall  be  done  by  the  Coimiittee  that  shall  be  impowered, 
Provided  sd  Committee  be  allowed  by  the  General  Assembly." 

The  Committee  chosen  were :  Capt.  James  Ward  worth,  of 
Durham  ;  Capt.  Samuel  Hill,  of  Guilford ;  and  Mr.  Samuel 
Lynde,  Esq.,  of  Saybrook. 

For  nearly  five  years  from  the  above  date,  no  account  of 
any  farther  proceedings  can  be  found  on  the  Town  Records,  KO 
that  I  have  no  means  of  learning  whether  the  controversy  was 
carried  on  or  not.  Neither  have  I  been  able  to  find  the  Memo- 
rial which  was  presented,  nor  when  it  was  presented. 

The  following  is  the  Act  of  Organization  : 

"Att  a  Generall  Assembly,  Hold '.MI  at  Hartford,  May,  8, 
1735.  An  act  Dividing  the  town  of  Killingworth,  in  the  county 
of  Newlondon — into  two  Ecclesiastical  Societies. 

"  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  Govener,  Counsell,  and  Representa- 
tives in  Generall  Court  assem"  led,  and  by  the  Authority  of  the 
same,  that  the  sd  town  of  Killingworth  by  a  line  to  begin  at 
Saybrook  bounds,  at  a  place  commonly  called  ye  South  East- 
Corner  of  Pollotiah  Ward1*  farm,  being  ye  proper  Southeast 


15 

Corner  of  Capt.  Peter  Ward's  Ninth  Division  land,  and  to  ex- 
tend from  thence,  W.  S.  West  5°  South  to  Guilford  line,  shall  and 
is  hereby  divided  into  two  Distinct  Ecclesiasticall  Societys ;  and 
ye  part  of  sd  town  lying  southerly  of  sd  line  is  hereby  declared 
to  be  a  Distinct  Ecclesiasticall  Societie,  with  all  power  and  priv- 
ileges proper  for  such  a  society,  and  that  such  part  of  ed  town 
that  lieth  northerly  of  ye  above  sd  line  shall  be  and  is  hereby 
by  the  authority  afore  sd,  made  into  one  Distinct  Ecclesiasticall 
Society,  with  all  the  power  and  privileges  proper  for  such  a  Soci- 
ety ;  always  Provided  that  all  lands  in  sd  town,  if  ye  owner 
liveth  in  the  town  Aforesd,  shall  be  taxed  for  the  Defraying 
parish  Charges  only  whare  ye  owner  or  owners  of  such  land  dp 
live." 

A  True  Copy  of  Record. 
Examined,  per  GOUG  WYLLYS,  Secretry. 

This  part  of  the  town  being  thus  set  off  into  a  distinct  Ec- 
clesiastical Parish,  the  first  meeting  "  of  ye  north  or  second 
society  in  Killingworth  was  held  att  ye  hous  of  Ebenezer  Hull 
in  sd  Society,  September  ye  25  day,  A.  D.,  1735,  Joseph  Will- 
cocks  was  chosen  Moderator,  Isaac  Kelsey  was  chosen  Society 
Clerk  and  sworne.  Nathaniel  Parmeley,  and  Nathan  Kelsey, 
and  Samewell  Steevens  was  chosen  a  Committey  to  warn  Society 
meetings  as  is  nedfull." 

The  Society  being  thus  organized,  the  divisions  of  the  fol- 
lowing Discourse  will  take  the  order  of  prominent  and  successive 
events. 

I.  Pastors  of  the  Church. 

"  At  a  meeting  held,  May  1st,  A.  D.,  1736,  Mr.  Josiah  Hull 
and  Mr.  Joseph  Willcocks,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Parleme  (Parme- 
lee)  was  chosen  a  Commety  to  gow  and  discors  with  Mr.  Samuel 
Eliot  from  time  to  time,  and  to  know  his  mind  whether  he  intends 
to  labor  in  the  work  of  the  ministree  or  now." 

Samuel  Eliot  was  the  eldest  son  of  Jared  Eliot,  Pastor  of 
ye  first  church.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1735.  He, 
probably,  had  the  ministry  in  view,  but  for  want  of  health  did 
not  enter  it.  He  studied  medicine,  and  died  Jan.  1st,  A.  D., 


16 

1741,  on  a  voyage  to  Africa,  undertaken  for  the  benefit  of  his 

•i       O 

health,  in  the  26th  year  of  his  age. 

It  was  voted,  Nov.  5,  1736,  that  "  wee  wold  hier  a  minister 
to  com  and  preach  among  us  this  winter  coming." 

"  Tt  was  agred  and  voated,  Deo.  ye  1,  Day,  1736,  that  we 
wold  hier  Mr.  'William  Seward  three  months  with  Avhat  we  have 
herd  him  ;  and  allso,  it  was  voted,  that  we  will  a  low  Mr.  Sewai'd 
thnrty  shillings  for  every  Sabath  Day  for  the  hull  term  of  time.'* 
At  the  same  meeting,  "  Daniel  Buel  was  chose  to  read  and 
tune  the  Salm  for  three  months." 

Mr.  Seward  was  "  hiered"  for  another  quarter  at  thurty-tive 
shillings  "  a  weak  and  his  keeping  allso." 

After  Mr.  Seward  had  preached  here  six  months,  Apr.  29th, 
1737,  it  was 

"  Voated  that  we  w6ld  hier  Mr.  Seward  for  one  quarter  of 
a  year  upon  trial,  in  order  to  a  settlement  in  the  work  of  the 
ministree  among  us." 

It  was  also  "  voted  that  we  will  give  three  hundred  pounds 
settlement  to  the  minister  that  we  shall  agree  to  settle  among 
us." 

There  was  no  distinction  between  church  and  parish  in  these 
early  days.  All  Ecclesiastical  matters  were  transacted  at  the 
same  meeting — the  society  included  the  church. 

"  It  was  voated,  July  6,  1737,  that  we  will  have  Mr.  Seward 
for  our  minister,  if  he  can  be  obtained." 

It  was  agred  and  voated,  Oct.  "ye  17,  1737,  that  we  will 
give  Mr.  William  Seward,  if  he  continue  in  the  work  of  the 
menesteree,  to  pay  six  pence  upon  the  pound  in  the  list  anaulley 
nntill  his  sallery  shall  amount  to  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds, 
at  the  rate  of  silver  at  twenty  o  fur  (four)  shillings  the  ounce, 
as  money  now  goes,  and  if  the  money  alters  to  rise  and  fall 
with  it."* 

*  "At  the  same  meeting,  it  was  voated  that  wee  will  sett  Mr.  Seward  a  house 
'•*A  feet  in  lenirt  h  ;  'JS  feet  in  breath  ;  and  10  feet  between  ioynts,  and  to  conipleat  all 
the  stone  work  and  Covrriim-:  w'mdo  frames,  Casments,  Dors,  and  inside 
joyners  woork  Excepted,  if  In;  lives  and  dies  in  yc  work  of  the  gospel  ministry 
among  us." 

Dec.  13,  17:17,  ''  Is;i:ic  Keisry,  and  Josiah  Hull  was  chose  a  Comrnete  to  fall 
and  hew  timber,  and  frame  and  sit  up  a  lious  for  Mr.  Win.  S  ward."  "  Nathan- 
iel Parmelec  and  .JoMah  I'armelee  was  chose  a  Commetc  to  git  shingels  and 
Clabords  and  nails  and  cover  sd  hous." 

"  Daniel  Buel  and  Nathaniel  Hull  was  chose  a  Com'mete  to  Didg  and  Stone 
the  seller  and  build  Chimncs  and  underpin  sd  hous." 

The  house,  thus  built,  and  in  which  Mr.  Seward  lived  and  died,  stood  where 
Mr.  Lyraan  Stevens's  house  now  stands.  The  house  was  burned  several  years  since. 


17 

This  vote  was  afterwards  somewhat  modified,  when  six  pence 
upon  the  Pound  should  amount  to  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
pounds :  "  after  that  we  will  give  him  to  the  value  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  ounces  of  silver  yearly." 

To  these  several  votes,  Mr.  Seward  returned  no  answer  in 
writing.  They  were  satisfactory  to  him,  for  on  the  27th  of  Dec., 
1737,  "  it  was  voted  that  we  wold  gow  down  to  the  first  society 
meeting  hous  in  Killingworth  to  ordain  Mr.  William  Seward." 

The  ordination  took  place  Jan.  18,  1738.  The  "Elders" 
present  were :  Rev.  Mr.  Phineas  Fisk,  of  Haddam,  Jared  Eliot, 
of  Killingworth,  William  Worthington,  of  Saybrook,  Abrah'm. 
Nott,  of  Saybrook,  Thomas  Ruggles,  of  Guilford,  William  Hart, 
of  Say  Brook,  Jonathan  Todd,  of  East  Guilford.  These,  together 
with  their  Delegates,  or  Messengers,  composed  the  Ordaining 
Council. 

Mr.  Seward  made  the  following  entry :  Those  who  were  in 
full  communion  in  the  Xorth  Parish  in  Killingworth,  at  the  time 
of  my  ordination,  and  of  the  first  embodying  of  the  church  there, 
are  as  follows  :4  The  number  was  fifty.  It  would  seem  from  the 
wording  of  this  record  that  the  church  had  been  previously 
formed,  though  all  accounts  assign  it  to  Jan.  18,  1738. 

Thus  the  Church  was  organized,  and  the  Pastor  settled,  one 
hundred  and  thirty-two  years,  four  months,  and  thirteen  days  ago.* 

Rev.  Wm.  Seward,  the  first  Pastor,  was  the  son  of  Dea. 
William  Seward  of  Durham.  He  was  born  in  Guilford,  July 
27,  1712.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1734,  and  took  his 
second  degree,  1737.  He  was  licensed  by  the  New  Haven  East 
Association,  1735. 

He  came  to  this  people  in  the  ardor  of  his  youth,  not  being 
twenty-six  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  settlement. 

At  that  time  the  parish  was  small,  but  under  his  labors  it 

*Dec.  5,  1738,  "  it  was  agreed  and  voted,  to  sit  up  a  scool  among  us  to  in- 
struct children  in  reading  and  writing." 

Sept.  21, 1741,  "Lieut.  Nathaniel  Parmelee  and  Abijah  Willcocks  ware  chosen 
a  Comete  to  petition  the  Town  of  Killingworth  at  a  Town  Meeting,  to  grant  sd 
2nd  society  their  proportion  according  to  ye  list  of  sd  society  of  ye  money  se- 
quested  by  the  general  Court  of  this  Colony  for  the  suport  of  schools  in  sd 
Colony. 

Dec.  6,  1758.  "It  was  agreed  upon  and  Toted,  that  there  Should  be  a  Night 
School  kept,  upon  the  same  cost  and  Charge  as  the  Day  School  is  kept." 

Thus  advanced  were  our  fathers,  in  respect  to  education,  that,  at  this  early 
date,  they  maintained  evening  schools,  so  that  all  might  be  taught. 

2 


18 

increased  and  became  strong.  The  people  were  widely  scattered 
over  these  hills,  and  the  ways  to  their  habitations  difficult,  requir- 
ing more  energy  and  perseverance  than  in  these  days  of  ease ;  but 
being  a  man  of  a  firm  constitution,  and  of  indefatigable  diligence, 
he  performed  his  duties  as  a  faithful  steward,  a  workman  that 
needeth  not  to  be  ashamed — enduring  hardness  as  a  good  soldier 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

His  heart  was  in  the  great  work  of  the  ministry  he  had  un- 
dertaken. He  was  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  a  scribe  well  in- 
structed unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  bringing  forth  out  of  his 
treasures  things  new  and  old. 

He  could  repeat  a  large  portion  of  the  Word  of  God ;  his 
mind  was  ever  intent  to  acquire  u  that  learning  which  was  least 
for  show  but  most  for  service.  He  was  apt  to  teach.  He  held 
the  pen  of  a  ready  writer.*  He  was  not  eloquent,  but  impressive. 
He  was  beloved  by  his  people.  "  He  sought  them,  not  theirs." 
He  made  himself  servant  to  the  people  that  he  might  gain  the 
more.  They  "generally  had  a  high  esteem  of  him  so  laboring 
among  them,  esteeming  him  very  highly  in  love  for  his  work's 
sake.  And  he  had  the  comfort  to  see  his  people  generally  united 
in  love,  '  keeping  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace.' " 
This  he  acknowledges  in  his  preface  to  his  "  Two  Sermons  on 
Joseph  a  Type  of  Christ."  He  says  :  "  I  present  them  to  you  as  a 
:small  token  of  my  endeared  love  and  affection  to  you,  and  as  a 
small  acknowledgment  of  your  love  and  kindness  to  me." 

"  As  a  minister,"  says  Rev.  Jonathan  Todd,  in  the  sermon 
which  he  preached  at  his  funeral,  "  he  Avas  really  a  shining  light, 
and  obtained  the  great  esteem  of  the  most  judicious  in  all  our 
congregations.  His  preaching  was  solid,  his  manner  grave  and 
serious,  his  subjects  were  the  great  things  of  God's  law  and  the 
doctrines  of  the  gospel.  He  was  excellently  gifted  in  prayer,  and 
remarkable  for  pertinence  and  fulness  of  matter  upon  special 
occasions. 

"  A  happy  concurrence  of  ministerial  gifts  and  graces  ren- 
dered him  very  useful  in  the  pastoral  office  in  his  day. 

*  One  of  his  congregation  requested  him  to  preach  from  Gen.  xlv:4,  "I  am 
Joseph  your  brother."  The  request  was  made,  probably,  Thursday  evening. 
The  subject — "Joseph  an  eminent  type  of  Christ," — was  one  that  interested,  him. 
He  says,  "I  considered  withal  that  discourses  of  this  kind  would  be  suitable  on 
a  sacrament  day,  and  therefore  preached  on  it  the  next  Lord's  day."  The  dis- 
course fills  48  pages,  12mo,  of  closely  printed  matter— all  written  in  two  days. 


19 

"  He  labored  among  this  people  forty-four  years.  During 
this  long  period  he  was  detained  from  the  house  of  God  but 
three  and  one-half  days,  until  the  last  four  Sabbaths  of  his  life." 

During  his  ministry  the  church  greatly  prospered,  though 
at  a  period  when  piety  was  very  low  throughout  the  land. 
There  was  no  general  revival  during  his  pastorate,  yet  he  received 
one  hundred  and -fifty-eight  into  full  communion,  and  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty-six  owned  the  Covenant.  He  baptized  one  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  forty-three  in  his  own  parish,  and  married 
three  hundred  and  seven  couple. 

The  following  entry  is  found  on  the  Records  of  the  church : 

"Feb.  5,  1782. — Departed  this  life  in  comfortable  and  firm 
hope  of  a  better,  the  Reverend  and  Worthy  Mr.  William  Sew- 
ard,  first  pastor  of  this  church.  After  having  served  God  and 
his  generation  faithfully,  he  died  in  the  70th  year  of  his  age,  and 
had  just  entered  upon  the  45th  of  his  ministry. 

He  was  much  beloved  and  respected  among  his  people,  and 
all  his  acquaintance,  by  whom  his  departure  is  much  lamented." 

The  second  pastor  of  this  church  was  Henry  Ely.  He  was 
born  at  Wilbraham,  Mass.,  May  15th,  1755,  and  graduated  at 
Yale  College — 1778 — a  class-mate  of  Noah  Webster.  He 
preached  first  to  this  people  during  Mr.  Seward's  sickness.  He 
continued  to  supply  till  July  9th,  1782,  when  he  was  invited  to 
"  settle  in  the  Gospel  Ministry."  The  same  day  he  returned  a 
favorable  answer,  though  he  did  not  fully  accept  the  call.  Thus 
matters  stood  till  Sept.  2nd,  when  the  Society  stipulated  to  pay 
Mr.  Ely  300  Ibs.  lawful  money,  as  a  settlement,  and  90  Ibs.  salary, 
"  silver  at  6s.  and  8p.  per  ounce,"  or  wheat  at  5s.  per  bushel.5 
In  addition  to  this,  it  was  voted  to  "give him  sixty  loads  of  wood 
by  the  year."  Also  it  was  voted  "  that  if  the  salary  was  not 
paid  at  the  time  agreed,  then  interest  should  be  paid  till  the  time 
of  settlement." 

These  proposals  were  satisfactory.  In  his  answer  of  accept- 
ance he  says  :  "  Having  received  an  invitation,  with  suitable  en- 
couragement from  you,  to  settle  among  you  in  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry :  having  received  the  advice  of  friends  and 
fathers  in  the  ministry,  and  seeing,  as  I  imagin,  the  path  of  duty 
plain  before  me,  I  cannot  be  disobedient  to  the  intimations  of 
Providence." 


20 

He  was  ordained  Sept.  25th,  1782.  Rev.  Theodore  Hinsdale 
preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  John  Devotion  gave  the  Right 
Hand  of  Fellowship. 

For  eighteen  years  Mr.  Ely's  pastorate  was  pleasant,  and  the 
people  united  and  happy.  No  sign  of  dissatisfaction  appears  till 
a  Society  Meeting,  held  Nov.  3d,  1800.  Then,  "on  motion  to 
grant  the  Rev.  Henry  Ely  a  salary  for  the  year  ensuing,  passed 
in  the  negative,"  by  a  large  majority.  The  causes  of  this  "  un- 
easiness "  are  not  recorded.  The  parties  could  not,  or  did  not, 
agree.  Dissatisfaction  became  more  decided  and  out-spoken. 

O  A 

No  "  accommodation  of  views "  could  be  made.  Negotiations 
were  entered  into,  and,  when  the  Society  agreed  to  take  his  house 
and  land,  he  resigned,  and  was  dismissed,  Feb.  12th,  1801.  His 
pastorate  was  eighteen  years,  five  months  and  seventeen  days. 

He  gathered  into  the  church  ninety-two :  one  hundred  and 
seventy-three  owned  the  Covenant.  He  married  one  hundred 
and  sixty-four  couple,  and  baptized  five  hundred  and  seventy- 
nine. 

After  his  dismission  he  returned  to  Wilbraham,  Mas*. 
Thence  he  removed,  the  same  year,  to  Rome,  N.  Y.,  preaching 
most,  if  not  all  the  time,  at  that  place,  till  1805,  when  he 
removed  to  "  New  Connecticut,"  to  the  town  of  Stowe,  now  in 
Summit  Co.,  Ohio.  In  this  then  very  new  part  of  the  State,  he 
preached  gratuitously  in  a  log  school  house,  till  the  opening  of 
the  war,  1812. 

His  home  was  on  the  bank  of  Pleasant  Lake,  from  which 
he  was  driven  by  the  Indians,  with  only  a  very  few  hours'  notice. 

He  then  returned  to  N.  Y.  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
days  with  his  children,  though  he  "  continued  to  preach  until  the 
infirmities  of  age  pressed  too  heavily  upon  him  :  maintaining  his 
Christian  character  and  integrity  to  the  end.  He  loved  his 
culling,  and  strove  to  do  good  while  life  lasted.  He  had  a  serene 
old  age,  and  a  peaceful  death."  He  loved  more  and  more,  as  age 
advanced,  the  teachings  of  Jesus.  He  taught  more  clearly  the 
doctrines  of  the  cross,  and  enforced  more  pointedly  the  practical 
duties  of  the  New  Testament. 

He  died  at  the  house  of  his  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  P. 
Braton,  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  2d,  1835,  in  the  eighty-first 
year  of  his  age. 


21 

Mr.  Ely  built  the  house  where  Mr.  O.  E.  Redfield  now  lives. 
It  was  voted,  Dec.  2d,  1782,  "that  Lieut  Roswell  Parmelee, 
Josiah  Parmelee,  and  Sergt.  Joseph  Griswold,  be  a  Committee  to 
git  ye  timber  and  hew  and  frame  a  house  for  Mr.  Ely." 

Another  committee  was  chosen  "  to  see  that  ye  sellar  be 
stoned,  and  ye  chimney  built  for  sd  Mr.  Ely's  house." 

For  more  than  eighty  years  this  house  was  the  home  of  the 
pastors  of  this  church.  When  Mr.  Bell  left,  in  1864,  the  prop- 
erty passed  into  other  hands,  and  the  present  beautiful  parsonage 
was  built. 

The  third  pastor  of  this  church  was  Josiah  B.  Andrews. 
He  was  born  at  Southington,  this  State.  He  graduated  at  Yale 
College,  1797,  and  was  class-mate  of  Lyman  Beecher,  D.  D. 
He  studied  Theology  with  Abel  Flint,  D.  D.,  of  the  South 
Church,  Hartford,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Tolland  Association, 
June  4,  1799. 

In  the  year  1800  he  was  sent  out  by  the  Connecticut  Mis- 
sion Society  to  the  southern  part  of  N.  Y.,  and  the  northern  part 
of  Penn.  He  was  gone  eighteen  weeks  and  two  days,  traveled 
1,349  miles,  preached  one  hundred  and  eleven  times,  attended 
several  conferences,  and  one  funeral,  beside  catechising  and  in- 
structing children  more  than  fifty  times  in  a  public  manner,  and 
frequently  visiting  from  house  to  house.  He  rode,  at  one  time, 
over  four  hundred  miles  without  meeting  with  any  regular  minis- 
ter. 

In  this  missionary  tour  he  was  the  instrument  of  doing  much 
good,  in  awakening  an  interest  in  the  subject  of  religion,  and  in 
leading  many  souls  to  Christ. 

Soon  after  his  return  he  began  to  preach  in  this  place. 
March  1,  1801,  he  occupied  the  desk  for  the  first  time. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  May  18,  1801,  it  was 
voted 

"That  we  will  give  Mr.  Josiah  B.  Andrews  a  call  to  settle 
here  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry." 

"Voted,  June  29,  1801,  to  give  a  salary  of  $400,  and  $1,000 
settlement." 

To  this  invitation  Mr.  Andrews  replies  : 

"  The  state  of  things  in  this  place  is  such,  at  present,  united 
to  my  circumstances  at  this  time,  that  if  it  should  meet  with  the 


22 

approbation  of  the  people,  I  should  prefer  a  delay  in  giving  a 
decisive  answer  until  the  first  Monday  in  December  next." 

From  August  to  December,  Mr.  Andrews  was  absent.  (I 
have  not  been  able  to  learn  who  occupied  the  desk  during  his 
absence.)  After  his  return  he  preached  till  March  22, 1802,  when 
he  gave  them  a  formal  answer,  accepting  the  call. 

February  25,  1802,  the  church  "voted  to  give  Mr.  Josiah  B. 
Andrews  a  call  to  settle  among  us  in  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry." 

In  his  answer  he  says :  "  Whereas  serious  difficulties  have  of 
late  existed  in  the  church,  which  have  caused  unhappy  divisions 
among  the  people,  I  have,  in  time  past,  thought  it  not  rny  duty 
to  comply  with  your  request,  consequently  a  delay  of  almost 
nine  months  has  been  made  of  this  important  matter  since  your 
call  was  first  given."  .... 

Among  other  reasons  for  accepting,  he  says  :  "  Consider- 
ing that  through  the  blessing  of  God,  and  the  effectual  workings 
of  his  Holy  Spirit,  there  hath  been  a  very  serious  and  uncommon 
attention  to  divine  things  since  my  first  entrance  into  this  place, 
among  both  old  and  young,  so  that  we  have  reason  to  hope  num- 
bers have  been  born  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  forever  to  rejoice 
with  him  in  glory,  and  viewing  the  progress  of  the  work  as  still 
glorious,  but  apparently  much  hindered  by  reason  of  a  delay 
of  the  settlement  of  a  minister,  that  he  may  be  statedly  and 
steadily  with  the  people  ; — Under  these  circumstances,  I  think  it 
my  duty  to  submit  the  important  question  relative  to  my  settle- 
ment with  you,  to  the  better  judgment  of  a  wise  and  judicious 
council,  which  may  be  called  in." 

Accordingly  he  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel  min- 
istry, April  21,  1802. 

Rev.  Abel  Flint,  D.  D.,  of  Hartford,  preached  the  sermon, 
from  Acts,  28  :  31.  Rev.  David  Seldon  gave  the  Right  Hand  of 
Fellowship. 

Mr.  Andrews  was  a  small,  short  man,  very  active,  and  much 
admired  by  his  people.  lie  was  animated  and  popular  as  a 
preacher,  and  an  advocate  of  "high  Calvinism."  He  was  strik- 
ing in  his  remarks,  convincing  in  his  reasoning.  He  was  sociable 
as  a  companion,  entertaining  in  conversation,  apt  to  teach,  as 
those  under  his  instruction  can  testify. 


23 

The  church  greatly  prospered  under  his  ministry.  Many 
built  their  hopes  of  salvation  upon  a  new  foundation,  even  faith 
in  Christ.  Others  were  strengthened  in  their  Christian  character. 
Many  who  had  lived  ungodly  lives,  were  led  to  the  Lamb  of  God, 
who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  and  found  peace  in 
believing  in  Him. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Andrew's  preaching  was  doctrinal, 
with  pointed  application.  He  discussed  a  new  class  of  subjects, 
those  which  teach  the  entire  sinfulness  of  man,  and  his  depen- 
dence upon  Christ  alone  for  salvation  ;  that  morality  and  good 
works  were  not  a  sufficient  ground  for  a  good  hope  of  heaven. 
He  told  them  that  they  were  in  the  hands  of  an  angry  God, — at 
his  sovereign  disposal.  He  also  taught  them  that  whosoever 
would  repent  of  their  sins,  and  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
should  secure  life  eternal. 

Some  took  offence  at  these  doctrines,  and  hence  opposition 
arose.  Better  feelings  were  cherished.  Sides  were  taken. 
Charges  were  made  involving  moral  character.  His  usefulness 
was  impaired.  A  council  was  called.  Lawyers  plead  the  case, 
but  nothing  was  proved  against  him.  He  was  regularly  dismis- 
sed, April  16,  1811.  His  pastorate  was  nine  years,  wanting  five 
days. 

In  looking  back  to  these  days  of  trial,  and  yet  days  of  bless- 
ing, I  think  we  must  conclude  that  the  influence  of  Mr.  Andrew's 
ministry,  was,  upon  the  whole,  good.  He  awoke  the  mind  and 
set  men  a  thinking.  He  started  this  church  in  its  upward  course 
of  prosperity.  From  his  day  to  the  present  God  has  blessed  us, 
and  the  plain  practical  teachings  of  Jesus  have  been  loved. 

He  admitted  to  the  church  one  hundred  and  forty-three  ; 
united  in  marriage  sixty-seven  couple;  baptized  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five,  and  attended  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  funerals. 

After  leaving  this  place,  he  went  to  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J. 
where  he  became  involved  in  difficulty,  and  left  the  sacred  office. 

He  then  studied  medicine,  received  his  diploma  from  the 
New  York  Medical  College,  1816.  He  returned  to  Southington, 
and  remained  there  till  the  death  of  his  father.  In  1837  he  re- 
moved to  Kew  York  City,  practising  medicine,  and  preaching 
occasionally.  He  died  1853. 

The  fourth  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  Asa  King.  Coming 
soon  after,  or  rather  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement  attending  the 


24 

dismission  of  Mr.  Andrews,  when  feeling,  ran  deep  and  strong, 
when  friends  and  neighbors  had  been  alienated,  and  when  opinions 
on  religious  subjects  were  held  widely  at  variance,  it  was  no  diffi- 
cult matter  to  harmonize  these  discordant  elements.  Particular 
men  are  i-aised  up  for  particular  occassions.  There  is  a  niche 
which  they  only  can  fill.  Such  was  Mr.  King.  The  friends  of 
Mr.  Andrews  liked  him,  because  he  preached  so  much  like  their 
former  pastor.  The  opponents  of  Mr.  Andrews  were  pleased 
with  him,  because  he  preached  so  unlike  their  former  pastor. 
Hence,  at  the  very  first,  Mr.  King  had  the  good  will  of  all. 

The  Rev.  Asa  Kinsr  was  a  native  of  Mansfield,  Conn.,  the 

o 

son  of  Mr.  John  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  King.  Living  at  a  distance 
from  public  school,  his  early  advantages  for  education  were  limit- 
ed. When  about  eighteen,  he  united  with  the  church  in  his 
native  place ;  from  this  time  he  had  a  strong  desire  for  an  educa- 
cation.  The  way  seemed  to  be  hedged  iip.  He  was  in  feeble 
health,  and  had  no  funds  or  friends  to  aid  him,  still  he  made  the 
effort.  He  qualified  himself  for  a  teacher,  and  taught  for  more 
than  a  year  on  Long  Island.  He  entered  Princeton  College  in 
1795,  but  for  the  want  of  health  and  of  funds  he  left  at  the  end 
of  the  year.  He  taught  in  Easton,  Penn.,  and  then  opened  a 
select  school  in  New  Haven,  where  he  remained  three  years  and 
a-half  The  ruling  desire  of  his  life  was  to  preach  the  gospel.  In 
the  Spring  of  1801  he  entered  the  Theological  School  of  Dr. 
Backus,  at  Somers.  He  was  licensed  by  the  New  Haven  West 
Association,  October  20,  1801. 

Very  soon  after  he  was  invited  to  settle  as  a  colleague  with 
Rev.  A.  Putnam,  of  Pomfret.  Here  he  continued  nine  years, 
being  dismissed  in  June,  1811. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  second  Ecclesiastical  Society  of 
Killingworth,  held  October  7,  1811.  it  was  voted,  "that  we  give 
the  Rev.  Asa  King,  a  call  to  settle  among  us  in  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  Ministry." 

"  Voted,  That  we  will  give  the  Rev.  Asa  King,  five  hundred 
and  ten  dollars,  and  twenty  cords  of  good  merchantable  oak 
wood  annually,  for  his  salary,  from  the  time  he  shall  be  settled 
in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry  among  us,  until  the  pastoral 
and  ministerial  relation  between  him  and  us  shall  be  dissolved." 


25 

Having  accepted  the  call,*  he  was  installed,  November  20, 
1811.  Rev.  Ludovicus  "Weld,  preached  the  sermon,  from  1  Cor. 
3  ;  4,  5,  6  verses.  Rev.  Dr.  Lyman  gave  the  Right  Hand  of 
Fellowship. 

Upon  Mr.  King's  settlement,  all  discord  ceased — harmony 
was  restored.  Old  friends  that  had  been  alienated  forgot  the 
past.  Subjects  of  heated  discussion  were  dismissed,  doctrines 
once  distasteful  were  now  cordially  believed,  so  that  there  was 
tranquillity  in  church  and  society. 

It  is  often  dangerous  for  a  minister  to  settle  with  so  much 
popularity/at  first.  It  is  like  standing  on  the  top  round  of  a  lad- 
der, whei'e  the  only  movement  must  be  a  downward  one.  But 
Mr.  King  retained  his  good  standing.  He  labored  on,  year  after 
year,  strengthening  the  weak,  confirming  the  wavering,  and 
bringing  the  whole  church  up  to  a  higher  level  of  Christian  ex- 
perience. When  he  left  Pomfret,  a  person  of  another  denomin- 
ation said,  "I  am  glad  Mr.  King  is  going  away,  for  his  people 
have  been  worshipping  him."  For  seventeen  years  he  was  re- 
spected and  loved.  His  influence  in  town  was  great.  When 
the  temperance  question  began  to  be  agitated,  being  a  staunch 
temperance  man,  he  took  advanced  ground.  Part  held  with  the 
pastor,  and  part  against  him.  Exciting  meetings  were  held.  In 
earnest  debate,  questions  were  discussed,  which  at  present  would 
awaken  no  interest  at  all.  The  very  formation  of  a  Temperance 
Society  separated  friends,  and  caused  serious  divisions  in  the 
church.  Under  these  circumstances  Mr.  King  asked  for  a  disso- 
lution of  the  pastoral  relation.  At  a  special  meeting,  held  July 
9,  1832,  it  was  voted, — "  To  appoint  a  committee  to  wait  on  the 
Rev.  Mr.  King,  and  request  him  to  withdraw  his  request  to  the 
society  for  a  dismission." 

The  request  was  not  withdrawn,  and  he  was  dismissed  on 
the  1st  of  August,  1832.  Mr.  King's  pastorate  was  twenty  years, 
eight  weeks,  and  eleven  days.  During  this  time  he  attended 
two  hundred  and  thirty-five  funerals ;  solomnized  one  hundred 
and  sixty-six  marriages ;  baptized  three  hundred  and  fifty-two, 
and  admitted  to  the  church  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine. 

From  Killingworth,  he  removed  to  Westminster,   and  was 

*  The  church  voted,  Nov.  4th,  That  Friday,  the  15th  instant  be  appointed 
as  a  fast  preparatory  to  the  installation.  The  public  service  to  begin  at  1  o'clock, 
P.  M. 


26 

installed  in  January,  1833.  He  remained  pastor  of  this  people 
for  nearly  seventeen  years.  He  died  December  2,  1849,  being 
nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 

"  Mr.  King  was  a  Christian  man."  Said  his  last  companion,  "  I 
never  knew  such  a  Christian.  He  seldom,  if  ever,  retires  at  night 
or  rises  in  the  morning  without  repeating  some  passage  of  scrip- 
ture, or  some  hymn,  and  adding  reflections  upon  it.  He  has  much 
communion  with  God." 

He  was  a  sympathizing  friend,  and  but  "few  knew  better 
how  to  offer  the  consolations  of  religion."  He  was  a  man  of 
sound  faith,  of  unswerving  principles.  "  He  took  hold  of  the 
massive  pillars  of  the  Divine  Government,  and  there  he  stood 
firmly."  His  master  honored  him  with  a  long  life,  and  much 
success  in  his  ministry. 

Rev.  Ephraim  G.  Swift  was  the  fifth  pastor.  He  was  born  in 
Williamstown,  Mass.,  August  14,  1782.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev. 
Seth  Swift,  who  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1779.  His  mother 
was  Lucy  Elliot,  of  Clinton,  (Old  Killingworth,)  a  descendant  of 
Elliot  the  Indian  apostle.  He  graduated  at  William's  College, 
1804,  and  studied  Theology  with  Dr.  Stephen  West,  of  West 
Stockbridge.  He  was  settled  a  colleague  with  Dr.  West  for 
nine  years.  Afterwards  he  supplied  several  parishes  until  he  came 
to  Killingworth.  He  commenced  his  labors  here  in  Jan.  1 833, 
and  was  installed  Dec.  11, 1833. 

Mr.  Swift  was  conciliatory  in  his  character,  having  that  char- 
ity that  suffereth  long  and  is  kind,  doing  good  unto  all  men  as  he 
had  opportunity.  His  ministry  was  laborious  but  successful. 
He  sought  to  win  souls  for  the  master,  nor  did  he  spend  his 
strength  for  naught.  He  admitted  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight 
to  the  church,  baptized  two  hundred  and  ninety-six,  iinited  in 
marriage  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  couples,  and  attended 
three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  funerals. 

At  his  own  request,  he  was  dismissed  Nov.  6,  1850,  being  a 
pastorate  of  sixteen  years,  ten  months,  and  twenty-five  days.  After 
his  dismission  the  Society  entered  the  following  on  its  records. 

Jtesolved,  "  That  the  effort  to  secure  and  preserve  peace  and 
harmony  in  the  church  and  society,  the  faithful  and  zeal- 
ous discharge  of  all  pastoral  duties,  the  earnest  and  consistent 
and  exemplary  life,  which  have  characterized  the  course  of  Mr. 
Swift  during  his  ministration  with  us,  merit  and  receive  our 


27 

most  sincere  thanks,  and  that  our  best  wishes  will  ever  attend 
him  through  life." 

He  died  at  Buffalo,  Aug.  28, 1858.  Though  among  strangers, 
he  received  every  expression  of  kindness  which  his  condition  re- 
quired, and  died,  as  he  had  lived,  cheered  and  sustained  by  a  good 
hope  in  Christ  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

The  sixth  Pastor  was  the  Rev.  Hiram  Bell.  He  was  born 
at  Antrim,  N.  H.,  graduated  at  Williams  College,  1836,  studied 
Theology  at  East  Windsor  Hill,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Tolland 
Association,  1838. 

He  was  ordained  at  Malborough,  Feb.  17,  1840.  After  a 
pastorate  of  ten  years,  he  was  dismissed,  and  was  installed  over 
this  church,  Nov.  6,  1850.  He  was  dismissed,  1864.  He  is  now 
acting  pastor  of  the  church  in  Westchester. 

Of  him  and  his  labors  I  need  not  speak,  for  he  is  here  and 
will  speak  for  himself.  Sure  am  I,  that  you  will  give  him  a  cor- 
dial welcome  in  your  greetings  to-day.  Many  whose  Christian 
graces  were  quickened  by  his  instruction,  many  who  acknowl- 
edge him  as  their  spiritual  father,  many  who  accepted  not  the 
invitation,  "  Come  to  Jesus  " — which  he  so  often  gave — will  take 
him  by  the  hand,  and  throngs  of  memories  will  come  rushing 
back  to  the  heart. 

He  gathered  one  hundred  and  twenty  into  the  church,  mar- 
ried seventy-six  couple,  and  attended  two  hundred  and  fifty-three 
funerals. 

In  the  list  of  the  departed,  during  this  period,  I  find  the  fol- 
lowing sad  but  honorable  record.  The  names  on  the  Roll  call 
of  those  who  fell  in  their  country's  sei'vice — are  Benjamin  Lord, 
Joseph  V.  Evarts,  Wilson  S.  Hall,  Charles  D.  Stevens,  Erwin 
Nettleton,  Ellsworth  Rutty,  Edson  Stevens,  Dennis  Nettleton, 
Samuel  B.  Hill,  Henry  E.  Barnum,  George  B.  Marsh,  Elford 
Franklin. 

Of  these  twelve,  but  two  lie  buried  here  among  their  friends. 
Of  the  rest,  some  died  of  disease,  and  others  from  wrounds  receiv- 
ed in  battle,  and  were  buried  from  the  hospital.  One  was  killed 
at  Gettysburg!!,  and  was  buried  with  the  noble  slain.  One  died 
within  those  fearful  stockades,  at  Andersonville,  where  life  was 
wasted  away  through  sufferings  and  agony,  such  as  are  almost  un- 
heard of  in  the  annals  of  cruelty.  Though  they  lie  far  away  on 
southern  soil,  and  in  graves  over  which  friends  never  weep,  yet 


28 

their  memory  is  blessed,  their  names  enshrined  on  tablets  never 
to  be  effaced. 

Thus,  looking  over  our  homes  made  desolate  by  war,  redraw- 
ing scenes  of  social  and  domestic  happiness  from  which  some 
loved  form  has  dropt  out,  and  recalling  those  who  went  out  full 
of  life  and  buoyant  hope,  but  who  Avere  never  to  return  ;  some 
falling  in  battle,  some  by  the  way,  some  in.  southern  prisons,  for- 
cibly are  we  reminded  of  the  words  of  the  poet : 

"  New  England's  dead  !  New  England's  dead  ! 

On  every  hill  they  lie ; 
On  every  field  of  strife,  made  red 
By  bloody  victory. 

Each  valley  where  the  battle  poured 

Its  red  and  awful  tide, 
Behold !  the  brave  New  England  sword, 

With  slaughter  deeply  dyed. 


Their  bones  are  on  the  northern  hills, 

And  on  the  southern  plain, 
By  brook  and  river,  lake  and  rill, 

And  by  the  roaring  main." 

To  return  from  this  digression. 

The  seventh  pastor  was  Rev.  Timothy  Lyman.  He  was 
born  in  Chester,  Mass.,  graduated  at  Amherst  College  in  1844, 
and  studied  Theology  at  Andover  Seminary.  He  was  licensed 
by  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Association,  1848.  He  then 
went  west,  and  for  fourteen  years  labored  there,  most  of  the  time 
as  a  Missionary  of  the  American  Home  Mission  Society. 

He  spent  one  year  among  the  freedmen  at  the  South. 

On  the  14th  of  April  1866,  he  was  invited  to  take  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  this  church  and  people.  Accepting  the  same,  he 
was  installed  Nov.  21,  1866. 

Rev.  J.  S.  Dudley,  of  Middletown,  preached  the  sermon.  Rev. 
J.  A.  Gallup,  of  Madison,  gave  the  Right  Hand  of  Fellowship. 

He  was  dismissed  March  1st,  1869. 


29 

I  need  not  give  a  definite  statement  of  his  labors,  as  they 
are  all  fresh  in  your  minds. 

Your  present  acting  pastor  preached  in  this  desk,  for  the  first 
time,  March  29,  1869. 

II.     Meeting  Houses. 

The  spirit  of  the  early  settlers  was  manifested  at  their  first 
society  meeting,  held  Sept.  ye  25th  day,  A.  D.  1735,  for  it  was 
then  voted  that  it  was  "  necessary  to  build  a  meeting  Hous." 

"  At  the  same  meeting  Edward  Rutty,  and  Josiah  Hull,  and 
Daniel  Buel  was  Chose  a  Commete  to  lay  a  memorial  before  the 
General  Assembly,  in  October  next,  to  pray  the  Assembly  to  es- 
tablish a  Commitey  to  affix  a  place  for  a  meeting  hous." 

"  At  an  iurned  meeting  from  ye  25,  Day  of  September,  A. 
D.  1735,  to  ye  forth  day  of  November  next,  at  the  house  of  Sam- 
ewell  Steevens  at  twelve  o'clock  at  none  ;" 

"  Josiah  Hull  and  Joseph  Willcocks  and  Edward  Rutty  and 
Theophilus  Redfield  and  Nathaniel  Parmelee  was  chose  a  com- 
mety  to  wait  upon  the  Gentlemen  Commety  appointed  by  ye 
General  assembly  to  affix  a  place  for  a  meeting  hous  for  sd  So- 
ciety." 

"  At  the  same  meeting,  John  Lane  and  Nathan  Kelsey  and 
SameweH  Stevens  was  chosen  a  Commety  to  Meashur  whare  the 
Gentlemen  Commity  apointed  by  ye  General  Cort  shall  think  it 
nedful." 

Nov.  18,  1735,  it  was  voted  "wee  wold  be  in  preparation  to 
Buld  an  hous  thurty  feet  long,  22  feet  in  weth,  and  7  and  •£• 
betwene  Gints,  with  a  Dobel  Chimney  atone  end." 

Mar.  25,  1736,  "  it  was  voted,  that  ye  society  hous  agreed  to. 
be  bult  shall  be  set  up  about  eight  or  ten  rods  northeast  from 
ye  place  affixed  for  ye  sitting  of  ye  meeting  hous." 

This  house,  either  because  it  was  too  small,  or  for  reasons  not 
now  known,  soon  gaA^e  place  for  another.  It  was  occupied  as  a 
place  of  worship  less  than  six  years.  It  was  called  the  "  society 
house,"  and  probably  was  never  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
God. 

Nov.  25,  1739,  "  it  was  voted  that  we  will  go  about  building 
a  meeting  house  for  the  worship  of  God  this  year." 


30 

"  Also  voted  that  we  will  build  sd  house  fifty-eight  feet  in 
length,  thirty-eight  feet  in  bredth."* 

Mr.  Edward  Rutty,  Dea.  Joseph  Wilcocks,  and  Josiah  Hull, 
blacksmith,  "  was  chose  a  committee  to  buld."  The  posts  were 
to  be  two  feet  shorter  than  those  in  the  first  society.  The  house 
was  to  be  enclosed  with  "  sawed  cla-bords,"  and  the  roof  covered 
with  eighteen  inch  chestnut  shingles. 

This  house  was  so  far  finished  as  to  be  occupied  in  1743,  per- 
haps the  year  before. 

I  can  find  no  account  of  any  dedication  service,  though  Mr. 
King,  in  his  last  sermon  in  the  old  house,  says  :  "  it  is  now  near- 
ly eighty  years  since  it  was  dedicated. 

A  vote  was  passed  Dec.  20,  1743,  "that  ye  seats  and  pues 
in  our  meeting  house  shall  be  dignified  by  ye  same  rules  that 
East  Guilford  hath  dignified  the  seats  and  pues  in  their  meeting 
house." 

Both  houses  stood  upon  the  ledges  a  few  rods  south  of  Mr. 
David  Chittenden's,  at  the  head  of  "  Bear  Swamp."  The  last 
house  faced  south.  There  was  a  door  on  the  south  side,  and  at 

*  In  this  connection,  the  following  records  are  of  interest : 

In  1730,  the  South  Society  voted  to  build  a  new  Meeting  House,  and  tax  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  according  to  their  list,  in  building  sd  house.  To 
this  the  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  town  objected,  as  they  were  so  soon  to  be  a 
society  by  themselves,  and  would,  of  necessity,  be  at  the  expense  of  building  a 
house  in  which  to  worship.  An  adjustment  was  made. 

"At  a  Town  meeting,  January  ye  15,  A.  D.  1731,— It  was  voted  that  our 
Northern  Inhabitants  should  join  us  in  building  a  new  Meeting  House,  and  that 
it  shall  be  built  by  a  Rate  or  Rates  particularly  by  themselves,  and  when  sd 
Northern  Inhabitants  shall  be  set  off,  and  qualified  according  to  law  to  be  a  soci- 
ety by  themselves,  and  shall  be  a  Building  a  Meeting  House  for  themselves,  that 
then,  we  that  remain,  that  is  to  say,  the  old  society,  shall  reiniburst  back  again 
to  those  that  then  will  be  our  new  society  as  much  as  sd  society  shall  disburst 
towards  building  sd  meeting  house  in  the  old  society." 

Turn  we  now  to  the  records  of  the  new  Societv.  Take  the  following,  the 
last  of  a  series  of  the  same  kind.  It  bears  date  of  Dec.  llth,  1739. 

"This  society  now  takeing  into  consideration  the  affairs  respecting  the 
money  payed  by  the  Inhabitants  of  this  society  towards  building  a  meeting 
House  in  the  South  or  first  Society  in  Killingworth,  which  money  hath  not  yet 
been  payed  to  us  altho  we  are  now  in  Building  a  meeting  House  in  this  Society, 
and  tho  we  have  used  endeauvrs  for  the  gaining  sd  money,  yet  we  are  still  de- 
layed to  our  damage ;  Whare  fore,  by  a  major  vote  of  this  society,  Isaac  Kelsey, 
Lieutenant^Natlianiel  Parmelee  and  Nathan  Kelsey,  are  now  Chosen  a  committee, 
to  ask,  demand,  Resieve  and  Recover  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  sd  first  society 
what  the  Inhabitants  of  this  society  advanced  towards  the  building  of  the  sd 
meeting  House  in  the  sd  first  society. — all  of  which  is  secured  to  us  by  the  vote 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  Killingworth,  assembled  in  a  meeting  upon  ye  15th  day  of 
January,  A.  D.  1731. 

Thus,  I  presume,  the  money  was  refunded  after  a  delav  of  more  than  eight 
years  ;  for  there  is  no  farther  account  of  the  transaction. 


31 

the  east  and  west  ends.  There  were  nine  windows  on  the  front 
side,  and  five  on  each  end,  and  eight  on  the  north  side.  There 
was  no  steeple  on  the  house — it  looked  like  a  large,  high  barn, 
full  of  windows.  It  was  for  many  years  a  peach-blossom  color, 
but  when  old  and  ready  to  decay,  it  assumed  a  "  dark  brown." 
The  step-stones  were  low,  broken,  askew,  and  rocking.  The 
window  casements  rattled  in  the  wind. 

The  pulpit  was  on  the  sides  of  the  north,  with  a  large  sound- 
ing-board over  it :  square  pews  below,  and  galleries  all  around. 
The  church  was  surrounded  by  quite  a  number  of  Sabbath-day 
houses,  "where  the  people  gathered  at  noon  for  shelter,  or 
warmth,  or  to  eat,  or  to  talk,  or  to  gossip,  or,  perhaps,  all.'1'' 
These  have  all  crumbled  and  gone.  Shrubs  now  grow  where 
once  the  house  of  God  stood.  Mr.  David  Chittenden  has  kindly, 
at  my  suggestion,  chiseled  upon  a  large  flat  rock,  which  was  un- 
der the  old  meeting-house,  "  1739  and  1820,"  so  that  the  present 
and  future  generations  may  know  where  our  fathers  worshipped.* 

The  society  voted  in  1816  to  build  a  new  house  of  worship. 
This  building  was  raised  in  1817,  completed  in  the  spring  of  1820. 
On  the  last  sabbath  in  May — the  28th — 1820,  worship  was  held 
for  the  last  time  in  "  ye  old  meeting  house."  Here,  for  eighty 
years,  the  people  had  gathered.  Here  had  many  dedicated  them- 
selves to  God.  Here  had  more  than  two  thousand  children  been 
consecrated  to  the  Lord  in  baptism;  but  with  joyful  hearts  did 
they  look  towards  this — their  new  house  of  worship. 

As  we  look  back  to  the  old  sanctuary  which  our  fathers 
loved — which  they  honored  with  their  presence — in  which  they 
worshipped — the  words  of  the  Psalmist  are  naturally  suggested — 
"  The  Lord  shall  count,  when  he  writeth  up  his  people,  that  this 
man  was  born  there."  Mr.  King's  closing  discourse  was  from 

o  o 

John  14:  31, — "Arise,  let  us  go  hence." 

On  the  31st  of  May, — fifty  years  ago  to-day,  was  this  house 
dedicated  to  the  service  of  God.  The  text  was  in  Haggai,  2 :  9, 
"  The  glory  of  this  latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  of  the 
former." 

This  house,  thus  dedicated  to  God,  God  lias  owned,  and  has 
often  shown  his  glory  in  it.  Here  he  has  met  his  children.  He 

*  I  would  suggest  that  a  large  stone  be  placed  where  the  first  society  house 
stood,  with  the  dates  of  1736—1742  chiseled  upon  it. 


has  heard  their  petitions  and  granted  their  requests,  even  giving 
them  more  grace.  He  has  enlarged  their  hearts  when  they  ran 
in  the  way  of  his  commandments.  He  has  honored  his  servants 
who  have  here  ministered  at  the  altar,  in  making  them  the  cho- 
sen instruments  of  leading  many  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  whotaketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world. 

As  in  days  past,  so  in  generations  to  come,  may  this  house 
stand — not  as  a  land-mark  to  guide  the  sailor  outward  bound- 
but  as  a  beacon  light,  along  a  dangerous  coast,  to  guide  those 
who  are  crossing  the  ocean  of  time,  to  the  haven  of  peace,  of  eter- 
nal blessedness. 

May  the  glory  of  the  future  of  this  house  be  greater  than 
that  of  the  past.  May  it  be  a  place  where  God  reveals  his  name 
that  it  may  be  there  forever. 

III.     Seasons  of  Revivals. 

At  the  close  of  the  last  century,  the  standard  of  piety  in  our 
churches  was  not  very  high.  The  half-way  covenanfa  i.  e.  "  a 
creditable  profession  of  godliness  is  not  necessary  to  full  commu- 
nion," was  generally  adopted,  and  nearly  all  were  thus  brought 
in.  A  good  moral  character,  and  the  practice  of  general  Christian 
duties,  were  sufficient  to  admit  to  full  communion.  No  doubt 
there  Avere  true  earnest  Christians  in  those  days,  but  piety  as- 
sumed then  a  very  different  type  from  that  of  to-day. 

After  the  time  of  Whitfield,  seasons  of  refreshing  from  the 
Lord  were  infrequent  till  the  close  of  the  century. 

The  opening  of  the  present  century  was  marked  by  great 
religious  movements  throughout  the  land.  In  1799  and  1800 
many  churches  in  this  state  were  refreshed.  In  1801  and  2  there 
was  a  more  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Spirit.  Among  those 
highly  favored  of  the  Lord  was  this  town.  In  the  spring  of  1801 
Mr.  Andrews  came  to  preach  to  this  people.  Seriousness  at  once 
began  to  prevail.  Some  of  the  young  people  requested  their 
pastor  elect  to  preach  a  sermon  to  them  on  election  day,  a  thing 
so  unusual  that  Mr.  Andrews  declined.  But  the  solicitation  being 
renewed,  another  day  was  soon  appointed.  The  house  was  crowd- 
ed. Many  wept.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  working  secretly  in 
their  hearts.  In  May,  the  interest  became  general,  and  so  con- 


33 

tinned  for  several  months.  In  August,  as  Mr.  Andrews  was  to  be 
absent  several  months,  he  invited  all  who  were  interested,  to 
meet  for  religious  conversation.  More  than  two  hundred  were 
present,  "anxious  about  their  salvation."  In  Sept.,  1801,  Rev. 
David  Huntington  received  thirty-two  into  the  church. 

After  Mr.  Andrew's  return,  the  interest  was  renewed,  and,  in 
1802,  seventeen  were  added  to  the  church.  The  next  year,  1803, 
"the  attention  of  both  old  and  young  seemed  to  be  unusually 
excited  again,  and  thirty-three  Avere  added  to  the  communion." 
In  1804  twenty-one  were  added  to  the  church,  making,  in  all,  one 
hundred  and  three. 

"Many  lost  their  former  hope,  and  were  led  to  build  again  on 
another  foundation,  which  is  Christ,  formed  in  the  soul,  the  hope 
of  glory." 

The  influence  of  this  revival  was  great.  It  reached  all 
classes,  soothing  bitter  feelings,  causing  animosities  to  cease,  so 
that  all  once  more  enjoyed  sweet  communion  together,  unitedly 
praising  the  God  of  their  fathers. 

Another  influence  of  this  revival  was,  it  changed  the  taste 
of  this  people  as  to  the  truth  they  desired  to  be  taught.  Instead 
of  smooth  things,  "  healing  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my  people 
slightly,  saying,  Peace,  peace,  when  there  is  no  peace  ;"  they 
loved  solemn,  pungent  truths,  those  that  take  hold  of  the 
heart,  those  that  teach  that  we  are  all  sinners  before  God,  and 
that  there  is  no  hope  of  salvation,  only  through  Christ,  the  sin- 
ner's friend. 

Among  those  who  united  with  the  church  at  this  time  were 
Philander  Parmelee  and  Asahel  Nettletou.  They  were  friends  in 
early  life,  and  the  friendship  thus  formed  was  never  broken. 
They  were  class-mates,  and,  I  think,  room-mates  in  College. 
They  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1809. 

Mr.  Parmelee  was  first  settled  at  Victor,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1812. 
Dismissed  Dec.  28,  1814. 

He  was  settled  at  Bolton,  Nov.  8,  1815,  and  died  there  Dec. 
27,  1822.  He  was  a  laborious  and  earnest  worker.  He  loved  his 
Master's  cause.  He  was  a  faithful  under-shepherd.  Though  cut 
down  in  the  prime  of  life,  he  had  not  labored  in  vain,  nor  spent 
his  strength  for  naught. 

Mr.   Nettleton  studied  Theology  with  Rev.  B.  Piuneo,  of 

3 


34 

Milford,  and  was  licensed  by  the  New  Haven  West  Association, 
May  28,  1811.  He  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry  with 
his  whole  heart.  But  few  have  equalled  him  in  effectiveness, 
while  at  the  height  of  his  power  and  of  his  usefulness. 

Dr.'  Bacon  says :  "  The  power  of  his  preaching  consisted  very 
much  in  the  clearness  with  which  he  exhibited  and  urged  the 
duty  of  impenitent  sinners  to  repent  immediately,  notwithstand- 
ing their  dependence  on  the  saving  grace  of  God,  and  notwith- 
standing the  metaphysical  difficulties  about  the  doctrine  of  the 
will.  While  he  insisted  on  the  inability  affirmed  in  these  words 
of  Christ,  '  No  man  can  come  to  me  except  the  Father  who  hath 
sent  me  draw  him,'  he  also  insisted  on  the  New  England  distinc- 
tion between  natural  inability  and  moral,  and  made  his  hearers 
realize  that  the  '  cannot '  is  only  an  obstinate  '  will  not.' ' 

As  a  man,  Dr.  Nettleton  was  sociable,  and  always  had  power 
to  interest,  especially  the  young.  He  was  a  lover  of  poetry, 
and  would  often  enliven  conversation  by  introducing  a  striking 
passage  from  some  favorite  author. 

As  a  preacher,  he  taught  practically  the  great  truths  God 
has  communicated  to  us  in  his  word.  He  presented  truth  with 
remarkable  clearness  and  pungency.  He  seemed  to  know  just 
what  topics  to  select,  and  when  to  urge  them.  He  was  never 
afraid  to  make  a  faithful  application  of  God's  word  to  the  heart 
and  conscience,  or  to  bring  it  to  bear  upon  any  known  course  of 
sin. 

"  His  manner  in  the  pulpit,  and  in  all  his  dealings  with  indi- 
vidual inquirers,"  says  Dr.  Bacon,  "  was  intensely  solemn,  and 
in  that  way  impressive;  while  now  and  then  there  was  some 
thing  like  '  sign-language '  in  his  gestures,  and,  corresponding 
with  it,  something  imitative  in  his  tones."  He  adds,  "  The  broth- 
erly regard  and  respect  which  Dr.  Taylor  and  Dr.  Beecher  had 
for  him,  to  the  end  of  life,  is  a  better  tribute  to  his  memory  than 
any  eulogism  that  could  be  written." 

Dr.  Todd  says,  "  I  heard  him  preach  what  was  said  to  be  his 
first  sermon.  It  was  in  the  school-house  on  Parkershill.  I  recall 
that  sermon — it  must  have  been  sixty  years  ago — about  Balaam 
and  Balak.  I  remember  the  preacher  was  very  awkward.  He 
woiild  bend  the  knees,  as  if  making  a  courtesy,  every  few  minutes. 
How  different  from  the  same  man  when  I  met  him  in  1820,  at  the 


35 

revival  in  Yale  College,  when  he  seemed  almost  to  raise  the  dead. 
No  one  who  did  not  hear  him  in  those  days  can  have  any  idea 
of  the  simplicity,  keenness  and  power  of  his  preaching  then.  His 
throne  was  in  the  school-house  meeting,  crowded,  dimly  lighted, 
breathless  and  solemn.  It  is  a  crreat  honor  to  Killing-worth  to 

o  O 

have  raised  one  such  man." 

He  died  at  East  Windsor,  May  16,  1834. 

In  his  last  sickness,  near  the  close  of  life,  one  said  to  him, 
"  You  are  in  good  hands  ;  are  you  willing  to  be  there  ?"  He  re- 
plied, "  I  am,  I  know  not  that  I  have  any  advice  to  give  my 
friends.  My  whole  preaching  expresses  my  views.  If  I  could 
see  the  pilgrims,  scattered  abroad,  who  thought  they  experienced 
religion  under  my  preaching,  I  should  like  to  address  them.  I 
woul  d  tell  them  that  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel  appear  more 
precious  than  ever,  and  that  they  are  the  truths  which  now  sus- 
tain my  soul." 

Among  his  last  articulate  utterances,  was  an  allusion  to  a 
farewell  sermon  he  preached  in  Virginia,  from  the  words :  "  While 
ye  have  the  light,  walk  in  the  light." 

At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  a  beautiful  May  day,  he 
calmly  fell  asleep  in  the  arms  of  the  Savior  he  loved. 

May  we  all  remember  his  dying  words,  "  While  ye  have  the 
light,  walk  in  the  light ;' '  and,  in  order  to  do  this,  "  cling  to  the 
cross  of  Christ." 

In  1810  God  again  visited  this  people,  and  fifty -one  were 
gathered  into  the  church. 

I  see  before  me  two,  who,  sixty  years  ago  stood  up  in  the 
old  church  and  avouched  the  Lord  to  be  their  God  and  Savior. 
Throughout  this  long  period  their  testimony  is  "  There  has  not 
failed  one  word,  of  all  his  good  promise,  which  he  promised  by 
the  hand  of  Moses,  his  servant." 

In  August  succeeding  the  dedication  of  this  church,  in  a 
Bible  class  taught  by  the  pastor,  commenced  "  that  ever-to-be-re- 
membered revival."  "  It  had  been,"  says  Mr.  King,  "  in  pleasing 
progress  for  some  time,  when,  under  the  labors  of  Dr.  Nettleton, 
it  received  a  new  impulse,  and  went  forward  with  unusual  power." 
Dr.  Xettleton  says  that,  "  on  the  25th  of  Sept.,  1820,  he  attended 
an  inquiry  meeting  at  which  sixty-two  were  present.  On  the 
29th,  thirty-nine  were  rejoicing  in  hope,  and  on  the  23d  of  Octo- 


»  36 

ber  there  were  ninety  rejoicing."  Mr.  King  says  that  "  the 
hopeful  converts  were  one  hundred  and  sixty-two." 

The  influence  of  that  revival  upon  the  church  was  very  hap- 
py. It  produced  unanimity  of  sentiment  on  doctrinal  points 
about  which  they  had  long  contended,  and  cordiality  of  feeling, 
where  there  had  been  prejudices  of  long  standing. 

There  are  many  present  here  to-day,  who  remember  the  im- 
pressive scene  of  Jan.  21st,  1821,  when  one  hundred  and  seven 
stood  in  these  aisles  to  profess  their  faith  in  Christ.  A  deep  feel- 
ing rested  upon  every  heart,  almost  like  the  felt  presence  of  God. 
It  was  not  the  moistened  eye,  but  the  breathless  silence  which 
told  of  feelings  too  deep  to  be  uttered. 

These  are  some  of  the  say  in  GTS  in  regard  to  this  revival 
which  we  have  heard,  and  our  fathers  have  told  us. 

Beside  these,  there  have  been  other  seasons  of  the  gracious 
out-po\iring  of  the  Spirit.  In  1827,  forty-nine  were  added  to  the 
church ;  1830,  twenty-two  ;  1835,  twelve ;  1 836,  fifty-nine  ;  1843, 
seventy;  1847,  twenty-five;  1854,  forty-one;  18-38,  forty-six; 
1866,  fifty. 

"These  years  are  memorable  in  the  annals  of  this  church, 
and  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  God's  people."  Our  borders  were  en- 
larged, and  we  can  say,  "  Behold  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
men,  and  he  will  dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall  be  his  people, 
and  God  himself  shall  be  with  them  and  be  their  God/' 

IV.     Conferences,  Sabbath  Schools,  &c. 

Mr.  Andrews  says:  "In  April,  1801,  perceiving  that  the 
Lord  was  in  a  very  peculiar  manner  pouring  out  his  Spirit,  and 
that  many  were  seriously  inclined,  a  weekly  Conference  Meeting 
was  established." 

I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  how  these  meetings  were  con- 
ducted, but  they  appear  to  have  been  meetings  for  religious  con- 
versation and  prayer. 

At  first  they  were  looked  upon  in  an  unfavorable  light,  be- 
ing regarded  as  a  kind  of  secret  conclave,  for  party  purposes. 
Insinuations  were  thrown  out,  but  to  no  purpose,  for  those  who 
had  established  these  meetings  swerved  not  from  their  steady- 
purpose  of  seeking  and  glorifying  God.  But  when  richer  dis- 


37 

plays  of  God's  grace  were  made  manifest ;  when,  according  to  the 
Prophet,  "  sinners  in  Zion  are  afraid,  fearfulness  hath  surprised 
the  hypocrite,'1  when  the  general  cry  was:  "Lord  what  shall  I 
do  to  be  saved  ?"  opposition  ceased,  and  these  meetings  became 
fully  established,  and  they  have  been  continued  uninterruptedly 
to  the  present  time. 

The  next  upward  step  was  the  organization  of  the  Sabbath 
School. 

Mr.  King  was  a  live  man.  His  heart  was  in  the  work,  and 
whatever  would  advance  the  cause  of  Christ,  he  was  quick  to 
sieze,  and  find  its  practical  value.  In  1816,  the  first  Sabbath 
School  was  held.  The  Pastor,  Dr.  Turner,  and  Bro.  Reuben 
Hinckley,  were  appointed  to  conduct  the  exercises.  All  children 
between  six  and  fifteen  years  of  age  were  invited  to  become  mem- 
bers. The  lesson  Avas  the  first  twelve  verses  of  the  first  chapter 
of  the  gospel  of  St.  John. 

On  the  day  set  for  the  opening  of  the  school,  Mr.  King  and 
Dr.  Turner  being  both  absent,  Mr.  Hiuckley  took  charge  of  the 
school.  He  gathered  the  children  into  the  front  seats,  and  then 
divided  them  into  four  classes  of  about  eight  in  a  class.  At  the 
opening  and  close  of  the  school,  there  was  neither  singing  nor 
prayer. 

Mr.  Hinckley,  Miss  Sally  Davis, — afterwards  Mrs.  R.  Hinck- 
ley,— were  two  of  the  teachers  in  this  first  school,  and  they  are 
with  us  to-day,  with  young  hearts,  though  advanced  in  years. 

Subsequently,  Mr.  Hinckley  became  the  first  superintendent, 
which  position  he  held  for  twelve  years. 

His  interest  in  the  Sabbath  School  has  never  abated.  Though 
now  nearly  four  score,  he  takes  great  pleasure  in  seeing  the  chil- 
dren gather  into  their  classes  on  the  sabbath,  and  in  listening  to 
their  songs  of  praise. 

There  are  present,  this  morning,  several  who  belonged  to 
this  first  school  of  thirty.  Among  them  is  Dea.  Abel  AVilcox,  who 
was  the  second  superintendent,  which  position  he  held  for  nearly 
twenty  years. 

From  this  small  beginning,  the  school  has  increased  till  it  has 
sometimes  numbered  two  hundred  and  fifty,  including  not  the 
young  merely,  but  the  aged — all  who  love  the  study  of  the  Bible. 
God  has  blessed  the  instruction  of  his  Word,  for,  of  those  who 


38 

have  united  with  the  church  since  1816,  a  large  proportion  has 
been  from  the  sabbath  school. 

The  first  or  society  house  had  a  "  single  chimny  notwith 
standing  ye  former  voat."  Whether  this  house  was  ever  warm- 
ed or  not  I  do  not  know.  But  for  the  second  house  there  was  no 
provision  made  for  warming  it.  In  this  region  of  hills,  and  snow, 
and  wind,  a  house  with  no  surrounding  trees  to  shelter,  or  fire  to 
warm,  must  have  been  a  cheerless  place  in  which  to  worship  the 
most  High,  yet  these  sturdy  men  of  yore,  inured  to  the  cold,  here 
assembled  and  listened  to  the  words  of  heavenly  wisdom. 

I  have  sometimes  fancied  Dea.  Wilcox,  of  Tower  Hill,  Isaac 
Kelsey,  Esq.,  of  Cowhill,  Theophilus  Redfield,  of  Chestnut  Hill, 
and  Edward  Rutty,  of  Pai'kers  Hill,  all  going  to  cliurch,  prob- 
ably on  foot,  from  three  to  four  miles,  through  a  keen,  cold,  blus- 
tering storm  of  mingled  snow,  and  sleet  and  rain,  and  sitting  all 
day,  in  the  old  open  meeting  house,  without  a  fire,  listening  at- 
tentively to  the  word  preached,  and  being  profited  thereby.  I 
have  wondered  at  the  patience,  and  admired  the  faith  of  our  early 
pastors,  when  clad  in  fur,  they  delivered  their  messages  of  love, 
when  the  only  word  that  would  fire  the  eye  was  "  Amen,"  at  the 
close  of  the  service,  so  that  the  hearers  could  go  to  their  "  Sab- 
ba-Day  houses,"  or  to  the  neighbors  to  get  warm.  The  internal 
fire  must  have  been  strong  and  glowing,  in  order  to  keep  off  the 
external  cold,  or  some  would  have  frozen. 

So  quiet  and  still  was  it  around  the  old  house  that  the  spar- 
rows found  it  a  good  place  to  build  their  nests.  The  squirrels, 
also,  often  disturbed  the  decorum  or  gravity  of  the  worshippers, 
by  running  from  pew  to  pew,  leaping  the  aisles. 

There  was  once  one  of  the  congregation  who  had  leaned  his 

o       o 

head  forward  and  was  fast  asleep.  A  squirrel  came  running 
along,  when  a  boy  struck  it  a  hard  blow,  and  he  fell  right  on  the 
sleeper's  bald  head.  He  suddenly  awoke  to  the  amusement  of  all 
around.  O  that  there  were  squirrels  in  our  modern  houses  to 
wake  up  the  sleepers. 

There  have  been  twelve  Deacons.  Dea.  Joseph  Willcocks 
was  the  first,  and  was  probably  chosen  at  the  organization  of 
the  church.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age — a  faithful  man — one 


39 

that  feared  God.  Unlike  many  churches,  we  have  had  good  dea- 
cons, men  of  principle — of  exemplary  piety — Puritanic  men. 
They  loved  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  were  willing,  in  their  turn, 
to  "take  the  laboring  oar." 

Eight  have  closed  their  labors,  and  have  entered  into  rest. 
Four  remain  to  this  present. 

During  the  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  years  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church,  there  have  been  seven  pastors,  making 
an  average  for  each  of  about  nineteen  years.  Mr.  Seward's 
pastorate  was  the  longest,  forty-four  years.  Mr.  Lyman's  the 
shortest,  two  years  and  three  months. 

The  first  six  pastorates  averages  twenty-one  years  and  eight 
months. 

During  the  whole  history  of  the  church  there  has  been  less 
than  two  years,  in  which  this  people  has  been  without  a  pastor, 
or  a  pastor  elect. 

It  would,  probably,  be  difficult  to  find  another  church  of 
which  the  same  is  true. 

Our  fathers  ever  manifested  a  generous  and  noble  spirit. 

In  1737,  the  salary  voted  to  Mr.  Seward  was  "at  the  rate 
of  silver  at  twenty-four  shillings  the  ounce,  as  money  now  goes, 
and  if  money  alters,  to  rise  and  fall  with  it."  Money  depreciated. 
In  1751,  silver  was  54  shillings  per  ounce,  in  1752,  3  Ibs.  and  10 
shillings  the  ounce,  1753,  it  was  4  Ibs.  to  the  ounce.  Still  Mr. 
Seward  received  the  same  value  as  when  silver  was  only  24  shil- 
lings the  ounce.  In  1751,  his  salary  was  135  Ibs.,  two  years 
after  it  was  416  Ibs. 

In  1797,  Mr.  Ely  made  a  statement  that  his  salary  was  insuf- 
ficient to  meet  his  yearly  expenses.  A  committee  was  appointed. 
They  report :  "  Your  committee  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  highly 
reasonable  that  the  society  should  make  an  allowance  to  Mr.  Ely, 
on  his  last  two  salaries,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  ten  dollars, 
and  this,  because  from  the  investigation  they  found  that  the 
general  advantage  accruing  to  the  community  from  the  high 
price  of  things,  has  operated  in  the  reverse  to  Mr.  Ely,  and  has 
made  his  salary  less  productive  than  formerly." 

This  report  was  accepted.     The  society  borrowed  the  money 


40 

and  paid  it  to  Mr.  Ely,  and  then,  at  the  same  time,  voted  to  raise 
his  salary  10  Ibs.  a  year.  Thus  generously  did  our  fathers  aet. 

There  have  been  trying  scenes  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
The  passions  were  excited,  and  it  seemed  fur  a  while,  as  if  the 
church  would  be  rent  asunder,  but  like  some  sudden  squall 
at  sea,  its  rage,  though  furious,  was  but  momentary,  and  all  was 
calm  again. 

O 

They  had  an  excellent  way  of  getting  over  difficulties.  Take 
the  following  as  an  illustration. 

o 

At  a  meeting  of  the  second  church  of  Christ,  regularly  con- 
vened at  the  meeting  house  in  North  Killingworth,  Aug.  4th, 
1808,  the  following  act  was  passed  : 

"Whereas  great  unhappiness  and  painful  divisions  have  long 
existed  in  this  church,  and  whereas  the  acts  of  this  church  in 
their  last  three  meetings,  which  wereholden  with  a  view  to  effect 

O     ' 

a  healing,  which  is  now  experienced,  have  not  been  placed  on 
record,  only  on  file,  voted,  that  the  pastor  now  records,  only  this 
our  final  act  of  oblivion,  with  respect  to  all  past  difficulties,  and 
that  we  will  cordially  receive  each  other  in  the  bonds  of  the  gos- 
pel as  brethren  who  are  disposed  freely  to  forgive  each  other,  and 
have  by  mutual  agreement  now  settled  all  past  differences  and 
layed  aside  all  disaffection  that  we  may  prayerfully  worship  God 
together,  and  enjoy  mutual  faith  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Beecher  says :  "  There  is  an  ugly  kind  of  forgiveness  in  this 
world — a  kind  of  hedgehog  forgiveness,  shot  out  like  quills. 
Men  take  one  who  has  offended,  and  set  him  down  before  the 
blow-pipe  of  their  indignation,  and  scorch  him,  and  burn  his  faults 
into  him,  and  then — forgive  him." 

Not  so  here,  so  complete  was  the  reconciliation  that  even 
the  parties  are  not  named,  not  even  the  cause  of  dissatisfaction. 
Oblivion  rests  upon  the  whole  transaction.  May  the  mantle  of  the 
sires  fall  upon  the  children,  and  children's  children,  for  successive 
generations.  "  Charity  covers  a  multitude  of  sins." 

It  is  a  striking  fact,  that  from  the  rural  districts,  more 
young  men,  comparatively  enter  college  and  the  ministry,  than 
from  the  villages  and  cities,  where  is  the  restless  hum  of  business 
strife,  and  the  dissipation  of  fashionable  life. 


41 

From  our  homes,  nestling  among  the  hills,  there  have  gone 
forth  those  who  have  occupied  stations  of  trust  and  usefulness. 
Fourteen  have  graduated  at  college,  and  two  died  in  their  Colle- 
giate course  at  Yale.6  Eleven  have  entered  the  ministry.7 

I  have  already  named  Philander  Parmelee  and  Asahel  Net- 
tleton.  Then  there  was  William  S.  Pierson,  the  beloved  Physi- 
cian. Dr.  John  Todd  spent  his  early  days  with  us.  That  dis- 
tinguished missionary,  Titus  Coan,  is  a  native  of  this  town. 
Here  he  played.  Here  he  was  rescued  from  a  watery  grave  by 
a  friend  and  neighbor,  who  still  lives.  Here  he  studied,  and  how 
much  his  character  was  molded  or  shaped  by  that  holy  man,  Mr. 
King,  to  whom  he  recited,  I  know  not.  He  went  from  this  place 
when  he  was  about  twenty-six  years  of  age.  Even  in  childhood 
he  indicated  what  the  man  would  be.  In  his  deportment,  he 
seemed  to  be  conscious — not  proud,  far  from  it, — that  he  had  a 
work  to  do. 

He  was  born  Feb.  1st,  1801.  He  was  a  child  of  many  pray- 
ers, trained  by  Christian  parents,  and  by  them  taught  the  fear  of 
the  Lord.  Though  he  did  not  make  a  profession  of  religion 
while  in  town,  yet  he  was  known  as  a  man  of  religious  character, 
a  man  gifted  in  prayer,  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Master's  cause. 
As  a  teacher  in  our  schools,  his  influence  remains  to  this  present. 
He  made  a  profession  of  religion  at  Riga,  N.  Y.,  March  1828. 
He  studied  Theology  at  Auburn  Seminary,  and  was  ordained  in 
Park  Street  Church,  Boston,  Mass.,  April  4,  1833.  Then  he 
went  on  an  exploring  mission  to  Patagonia.  Landed  near  the 
straits  of  Magellan,  Nov.  14,  1833.  He  found  everything  un- 
promising, returned,  and  arrived  at  New  London,  May  14,  1834. 
He  was  married  Nov.  3,  1834,  to  Miss  Fidelia  Church.  He  em- 
barked for  Honolulu,  Dec.  5,  1834,  and  arrived  June  6,  1835.  He 
was  stationed  at  Ililo.  Here  his  labors  have  been  greatly  bless- 
ed, wonderful  has  been  the  work  God  has  wrought  by  him.  A 
heathen  island  has  been  transformed,  and,  instead  of  idol  wor- 
ship, everywhere  is  seen  and  felt  the  pure  influence  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  The  wilderness  and  solitary  places  have  been 
made  glad  by  him,  and  the  Isles  of  the  sea  have  been  converted 
to  God. 

The  admissions  to  his  church  for  twenty-five  years,  when  his 


42 

connection  with  the  American  Board  ceased,  and  his  church  became 
a  sell-sustaining  ehuivh,  were  eleven  thousand,  four  hundred  and 
ninety-one.8  In  18l>:>,  liis  church  contained  four  thousand  three 
hundred  and  eighty-six  members. 

Mr.  Coan  is  now  on  a  visit  to  the  United  States,  the  first  that 
he  has  made  since  entering  the  service,  Dec.  5,  1834. 

V.     Retrospect. 

Fifty  years  ago  to-day,  this  house  was  dedicated  to  God. 
How  different  our  situation  from  that  of  our  fathers !  They 
lived  more  simple,  more  frugal  than  we.  They  came  to  church 
on  foot  or  on  horseback,  we  in  cushioned  carriages.  They  "  seat- 
ed "  the  house  of  God,  we  obtain  our  seats  by  the  highest  bid. 
They  "dignified"  the  house,  we  know  no  distinction  ;  scats  offer- 
ed alike  to  all.  They  were  called  to  churcli  by  a  drum,  we  by 
a  bell.  They  sat  through  all  the  cold  winter's  day,  storm 
never  so  hard,  without  a  fire ;  we  have  ceiled  houses  and  well 
warmed. 

We,  also,  are  situated  different  from  what  our  children  will 
be.  They  in  their  turn  will  refer  to  us,  and,  fifty  years  hence, 
shall  we  be  contrasted  with  the  generation  that  then  is;  yet  in  a 
great  measure  they  will  be  as  we  are.  Character,  influence,  is 
like  many  streams,  which  disappear  for  a  long  distance,  and  all 
traces  of  them  seem  to  be  lost,  but  farther  on  come  to  the  earth 
again,  and  flow  on  to  the  ocean.  So  the  influence  we  exert  may 
sceiu  to  be  lost,  but  it  will  rise  in  a  future  generation  to  mold 
and  shape  destiny.  How  often  do  AVC  hear  it  said,  that  a  child 
resembles  a  grandparent,  or  even  some  earlier  ancestor.  What  a 
lesson  this  to  us,  who  are  now  the  actors  on  life's  stage. 

Standing  then,  on  this  pivoted  moment,  and  looking  back  ;< — 
What  change's.  What  desolations  hath  God  wrought?  Our 
fathers,  where  arc  they?  Where  are  those  whose  locks  were 
silvered  o'er  with  age  when  this  goodly  temple  was  raised  ? 
Where  are  those  who  were  foremost  in  erecting  this  sanctuary, 
for  themselves  and  children,  in  which  to  worship  God  ?  Where 
is  he  who  then  ministered  at  this  altar  V 

They  are  gone — all  gone. 


43 

Fifty  years  ago  these  seats  were  filled  with  the  aged — the 
young — the  beautiful.  Their  seats  to-day  are  vacant.  They 
greet  us  only  in  spirit.  They  come  not  to  welcome  us  to  their 
homes  any  more.  The  bright,  blazing  fire  casts  not  their  shadow 
upon  the  wall.  The  old  armed  chair  is  set  aside,  and  child- 
ren who  are  a  crown  of  joy  to  the  hoary  head,  weep  over  the 
graves  of  their  sires.  Alas  !  how  many  who  Avere  then  young 
are  not  with  us  now.  Not  a  family  circle  remains  to-day  as  it  was 
then.  Dear  ones  have  fallen  every  year.  Our  ranks  are  thin- 
ning, and  soon  all  will  be  gone. 

In  this  period,  how  many  have  been  added  to  the  countless 
dead  !  Probably  not  less  than  two  thousand  of  our  townsmen 
have  mouldered  back  to  dust,  since  the  worship  of  God  has  been 
established  here,  and  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  have  ascended 
from  these  heights  of  Zion. 

Of  all  this  number  but  one  reached  the  age  of  a  hundred.* 
She  was  born  1732 — memorable  for  the  birth  of  Washington — 
and  died  1832.  She  worshipped  in  all  three  houses  that  have 
been  erected  here  for  the  worship  of  God. 

Through  these  years  under  review,  the  human  heart  has 
acted  out  its  deep  depravity,  showing  how  fully  it  is  set  to  do 
evil.  On  the  other  hand,  God  has  made  rich  displays  of  his 
grace,  revealing  himself  a  God,  gracious,  long-suffering,  ready  to 
pardon.  He  has  heard  the  voice  of  prayer,  blessed  the  labors  of 
his  children,  and  sent  his  good  spirit  to  rene\v  and  sanctify  the 
heart.  Since  this  church  was  organized,  one  thousand  and  ninety 
six  have  taken  upon  themselves  solemn  vows,  and  dedicated 
themselves  to  God.  The  present  number  of  the  church  is  two 
hundred  and  seventy-two,  so  that  about  eight  hundred  have  been 
housed  in  the  grave — gone  to  their  eternal  home, 

"  What  is  tliis  passing  scene  ? 

A  peevish  April  day, 
A  little  snow — a  little  rain, 
And  then  night  sweeps  along  the  plain, 
And  all  things  fade  away, 

Whatever  else  is  true,  we  are  swelling  the  stream  of  dying 

*  Mrs.  Mary  Turner,  wife  of  Capt.  A.  Turner. 


44 

immortals,  which,  ever  flowing  on,  will  soon  engulf  us  all,  and  we 
shall  rest  beside  the  generations  that  have  gone  before  us. 

What  a  page  in  the  world's  history  would  the  events  of  the 
last  half  century  comprise.  Yea,  what  since  this  church  was 
organized.  Kingdoms  have  crumbled.  Thrones  have  been  over- 
thrown. Wars  have  desolated  our  land.  The  combined  force 
of  the  French  and  Indians  has  been  broken.  The  oppressive 
yoke  of  foreign  power  has  been  shaken  off — and  in  the  bloody 
strife — thousands  have  fallen.  On  the  gory  field — are  they  laid — 
far  from  home  and  loving  hearts. 

General  intelligence  has  been  diffused.     Colleges  and  Semina- 

d>  O 

ries  of  learning  have  been  established.  The  school  houses  "  where 
New  England  men  are  made,"  dot  the  land.  The  old  beaten 
tracks  are  left.  Inventive  genius  has  been  busy.  Franklin  has 
"  caught  and  tamed  the  lightning,"  and  Morse  has  taught  it  not 
only  the  "  English  language,"  but  the  elements  of  all  language, 
The  steamboat  plows  every  river  and  the  mighty  ocean.  Moun- 
tains are  levelled  and  valleys  raised,  and  the  steam  car  speeds 
across  the  continent.  Battles  for  civil  and  religious  liberty  have 
been  fought,  and  the  victory  won. 

Bible  Societies,  Mission  Societies,  Temperance  Societies, 
have  all  come  into  being  since  our  fathers  first  worshipped  here. 
Thus  marked  has  been  the  progress  that  has  been  made  in  sci- 
ence and  literature,  and  in  all  that  relates  to  the  extension  of 
Christ's  kingdom  since  this  goodly  temple  was  reared  on  this 
beautiful  hill. 

Instead  of  the  fathers,  shall  be  the  children.  They  are  the 
connecting  link  between  the  past  and  the  future.  Through  them 
is  to  be  transmitted  the  rich  inheritance  we  have  received.  Our 
fathers  were  wise  men — far-seeing  men.  They  well  understood 
that  the  prosperity  of  society  depended  upon  the  permanence  of 
the  gospel  ministry. 

Sept.  9,  1736,  we  find  the  following  record  : 

"  We  being  set  off  by  the  General  Assembly,  to  be  a  distinct 
ecclesiastical  society,  with  all  powers  and  privileges  proper  for 
such  a  society, — we  have  therefore  agreed  and  voted  that  we 
will  set  up  and  carry  on  the  public  worship  of  God  among  us 
for  the  future,  as  God  shall  enable  us." 


45 

"Dec.  1,  1736,  it  was  agreed  and  voted  that  we  will  uphold 
the  worship  of  God  among  us  continually." 

From  that  day  to  this,  there  has  not  been  wanting  to  this 
people  a  religious  teacher.  The  fire  has  not  gone  out  upon  the 
altar. 

"  The  upholding  public  worship  continually  " — what  a  power ! 
It  reaches  through  the  whole  history  of  man — the  life  of  the  soul. 
It  affects  his  present  as  well  as  his  future  happiness.  It  stimu- 
lates thrift  and  enterprise  as  well  as  sobriety  and  decorum.  Its 
victories  are  not  those  wide  wasting  victories  of  the  conqueror, 
but  the  noiseless  victories  of  peace  and  love.  Its  triumphs  are 
not  the  triumphs  of  vice,  but  of  virtue.  It  raises  no  "  Trajan 
Pillar,"  no  "  Coliseum,"  erects  no  granite  pyramids,  founds  no 
marble  College  to  the  exclusion  of  God,  and  all  that  relates  to  the 
destiny  of  man ;  but  it  erects  pillars  of  true  "glory  on  Malabar's 
coast."  It  builds  pyramids  of  enduring  worth — built  of  living 
stones  and  cemented  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  which  stand  as  the 
proud  trophies  of  the  gospel,  and  will  stand  when  Egypt's  fall. 
It  rears  Colleges,  and  dedicates  them  to  Christ  and  to  the  church. 
It  sends  up  the  high  spire  to  glitter  in  the  sun  and  be  as  a  bea- 
con light  to  the  weary  traveller,  to  tell  him  where  is  the  house  of 
God — that  he  is  safe.  It  points  to  the  tomb,  and  farther — it 
points  beyond  the  tomb,  and  brings  from  thence  the  great  and 
glorious  truth — 

Man,  thou  shall  never  die. 

Its  influence  is  transforming  upon  the  heart  and  character. 
"  Whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see." 

It  was  to  enjoy  the  worship  of  God  and  the  privileges  con- 
nected with  it,  that  our  fathers  left  the  quiet  of  their  homestead- 
circles — suffered  in  prison — braved  the  dangers  of  a  winter  pass- 
age, and  the  severe  frost  and  snows  of  these  New  England  Hills. 

It  was  for  this  that — 

"  A  band  of  exiles  moored  their  barks, 
On  the  wild  New  England  shore." 


46 
It  was  for  this  that — 


"  They  shook  the  depths  of  the  desert's  gloom 
With  their  songs  of  lofty  cheer." 

It  was  for  this  that — 

"  The  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woods  rang 
To  the  anthem  of  the  free." 

"  Aye,  call  it  holy  ground, 
The  spot  where  first  they  trod, 
They  have  left  unstained  what  there  they  found, 
Freedom  to  worship  God," 

It  was  for  this,  they  levelled  the  forests  and  planted  vine- 
yards on  these  rugged  hills.  For  this  they  encountered  the 
dangers  of  an  Indian  warfare.  For  this  they  resisted  the  tyranny 
of  their  mother  country,  rose  to  arms  and  poured  their  blood  in 
the  defence  of  Freedom.  For  this  they  passed  through  those 
almost  superhuman  struggles,  to  give  unto  us,  their  children,  those 
inestimable  privileges  which  we  this  day  enjoy. 

Yes,  the  pulpit  made  our  fathers  what  they  were, — men  of 
sterling  character — of  stout  heart — of  ennobling  views.  They 
have  entered  into  their  rest,  and  we  into  their  labors.  We  have 
come  into  possession  of  what  the  pulpit  secured  to  them  :  for  it 

"  (in  the  sober  use 
Of  its  legitimate  and  sober  powers) 
Must  stand  acknowledged  while  the  world  shall  stand, 
The  most  important  and  effectual  guard, 
Support  and  ornament  of  virtue's  cause." 

The  pulpit  is  the  central,  moral  power  of  the  world.  Its  in- 
fluence is  abiding.  Its  work  is  permanent.  The  monuments 
of  art  crumble.  Where  is  Babylon,  with  its  towering  walls  and 
hanging  gardens !  Where  is  the  splendor  of  Palmyra  !  Where 
is  Thebes,  with  its  hundred  gates  !  Where  is  the  kingdom  of 
Alexander !  Where  are  the  trophies  of  Caesar.  They  are  gone — 
all  in  ruins  !  "  Where  are  the  monuments  of  the  work  of  the 
ministry !  In  the  ransomed  spirits ;  in  the  sweet  peace  of  the 
Christian's  dying  bed  ;  in  hearts  transformed  ;  in  virtues  to  bloom 


47 

forever ;  in  SOIT!S  that  are  immortal ;  in  the  glories  of  the  resurec- 
ition  ;  in  the  crowns  incorruptible  and  unfading;  by  the  river  of 
of  life,  and  amidst  the  splendors  of  heaven." 

What  interest  cluster  around  and  in  a  historic  day  like  this  ! 
Old  associates  are  revived,  faces  once  familiar  are  recalled,  homes, 
as  they  were  years  since,  are  repeopled,  and  we  are  young  again. 
We  embrace  again  the  rocks  and  trees,  around  which  we  played 
in  early  life.  We  gather  again  at  the  paternal  knee,  and  feel 
again  the  hand  of  love  resting  on  our  heads,  and  all  the  tender 
feelings  awakened  by  the  name  of  father,  mother,  arise  fresh  in 
the  heart. 

We  go  farther.  We  recall  our  ancestors.  We  enter  their 
humble  dwellings.  We  sit  at  their  frugal  board.  We  are  with 
them  in  their  toils  as  they  cleared  these  hills ;  in  their  sympathies 
as  they  met  to  consult  about  the  house  of  God  ;  in  their  sacrifices, 
when  with  one  mind  and  one  heart  they  labored  together  for  the 
honor  of  Christ ;  and  into  their  joys,  when  they  saw  their  efforts 
crowned  with  success. 

This  festive  day  will  quickly  close.  This  assembly  will  part, 
never  all  to  meet  again  till  we  meet  at  the  last  day.  These 
flowers  will  wither.  These  evergreens  will  fade ;  and,  when  an- 
other anniversary  shall  come,  these  names  will  be  crowded  closer 
together,  and  others  will  be  placed  upon  these  walls.  In  this 
pulpit,  other  men  will  preach.  These  seats  will  have  other  occu- 
pants. Others  will  sing  the  songs  of  Zion.  Othei's,  too,  will 
sustain  the  ministrations  of  this  house.  May  this  Church  be 
enriched  in  everything  to  all  bountifulness.  May  her  love,  her 
faith,  her  prayers  abound  ! 

At  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  when  one  after  another  of  the 
brave  men  fell,  the  survivors  looked  silently  around  to  Perry, 
and  then  stepped  into  their  places.  Those  who  had  fallen, 
Avounded  and  weltering  in  their  blood,  were  all  found  with  their 
faces  towards  him,  and  their  eyes  fixed  on  his  countenance. 

So  when  1870  shall  be  linked  with  1920,  may  those  who  are 
then  in  the  midst  of  the  conflict,  see  that  we  have  fallen  at  our 
posts  of  duty — each  with  his  eye  on  the  great  Captain  of  our 
salvation — Christ  the  only  hope  of  glory. 

To-day  we  would  rededicatc  this  church  to  the  service  and 


48 

Worship  of  the1  one  living  and  true  God.  To-day  we  would  re-- 
consecrate ourselves  to  Christ.  To-day  we  would  provoke  one 
another  unto  love  and  good  works,  emulating  the  bright  ex- 
amples that  are  before  us.  Thus  may  the  faith  of  the  fathers  be 
transmitted  through  us,  the  sons,  to  those  who  shall  come  after 
us  and  worship  in  this  sanctuary.  And  now,  what  wait  we  for ! 
"Arise,  O  Lord  God,  and  enter  into  thy  rest — thou  and  the  ark 
of  thy  strength."  And  here  we,  thy  people,  will  abide  forever. 


Afternoon    Services. 


At  the  close  of  the  morning  service,  all  present  Avere  cordially 
invited  to  repair  to  the  Town  Hall  for  refreshments. 

Of  the  entertainment,  we  need  only  say,  that  it  was  one  of 
those  rare  feasts  such  as  the  ladies  of  Killingworth  know  how  to 
give.  Or,  as  Dr.  Todd  said  of  it,  "  if  other  ladies  thought  to 
provide  a  better  or  more  inviting  feast,  than  had  been  provided 
for  them  to-day,  in  this  they  would  be  disappointed." 

Silence  being  required,  Rev.  Dr.  Todd  invoked  the  Divine 
Blessing. 

Xearly  eight  hundred  people  had  their  wants  supplied. 

This    was  an   hour   of  social   regathering,    and    of  mutual 

O  O  t 

greetings.  Old  friends  met  again  on  the  Hill  and  spoke  words 
of  cheer.  It  was  an  interesting  sight  to  see  friend  meet  friend, 
and  to  hear  the  hum  of  happy  voices, — often  the  shout  of  glad 
surprise. 

At  two  o'clock,  all  repaired  again  to  the  Church.  Again 
the  spacious  house  was  filled  to  repletion. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Parmelee  gave  an  Address  of  welcome,  as  fol- 
lows : 

ADDRESS. 

Friends  and  fellow-citizens  of  Killingworth,  and  friends 
from  abroad,  to  whom  this  place  is  endeared  by  the  remembrance 
of  your  fathers,  and  you  from  neighboring  churches,  who  have 
assembled  with  us  to-day,  to  join  in  the  celebration  of  this  anni- 
versary :— '-We  welcome  you  to  this  home  of  our  fathers.  We 
welcome  you  to  this  house  of  prayer,  which  they  here  erected, 
and,  a  half  century  ago,  dedicated  to  the  worship  and  service  of 
Almighty  God.  And  we  cordially  invite  you  to  unite  with  us, 
as  with  grateful  hearts  we  offer  prayer  and  praise  to  Him  whom 

4 


50 

our  fathers  worshipped.  With  what  considerate  regard  for  the 
honor  of  their  Maker,  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Zion, 
and  for  the  welfare  of  succeeding  generations,  did  they  here  erect 
this  house  of  prayer,  this  temple  on  the  hill,  the  site  of  which 
seems  to  be  suggestive  of  the  thought  that  their  aspirations  were 
heavenward.  But  I  would  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  suppos- 
ing that  God  or  heaven  is  nearer  the  hill  top,  or  the  mountain 
top,  than  the  valley.  Yet  to  the  mind  of  the  Bible  reader,  there 
are  many  interesting  thoughts  associated  with  the  thought  of  as- 
cending an  eminence  to  commune  with  our  Heavenly  Father. 
We  remember  Moses  on  Sinai  communing  with  his  God,  and  re- 
ceiving the  commandments  ;  we  think  of  Elijah,  who  alone  was 
left  of  the  prophets  of  the  Lord,  ascending  Carmel's  heights,  there 
to  confront  the  four  hundred  and  fifty  prophets  of  Baal,  and  there 
to  decide  the  question, — "  Whether  indeed  the  Lord  was  God,  or 
whether  the  supremacy  belonged  to  Baal" ;  and  our  faith  is  strength- 
ened as  we  think  of  his  glorious  triumphs  there.  We  remember 
Zion,  where  God's  ancient  people  worshipped.  We  remember, 
too,  that  our  Savior  went  out  into  the  mountains  to  pray. 

"  Cold  mountains,  and  the  mid-night  air, 
Witnessed  the  fervor  of  his  prayer" 

We  think  of  the  scenes  of  Calvary  and  Olivet.  And  with 
these  memories  clustering  around  their  minds,  we  wonder  not 
that  our  fathers  selected  this  eminence  as  a  site  for  their  house 
of  worship,  that  they  might  say  to  their  children,  and  to  their 
households,  "  Come,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  house  of  prayer,  and 
bow  before  our  Maker."  O  what  sacred  associations  are  in  our 
minds  connected  with  this  place. 

Here  on  this  hill  for  half  a  century  God  has  fed  his  flock, 
and  here  watered  it  from  the  living  fountain.  Here  it  has  been 
watched  by  faithful  shepherds.  Other  shepherds  were  here  be- 
fore the  erection  of  this  house. — viz.,  Seward,  Ely,  Andrews, — 
who  are  known  to  many  of  us  only  in  history,  or  in  the  traditions 
of  our  fathers.  But  when  we  come  to  the  name  of  Rev.  Asa  King, 
the  hearts  of  many  of  us  are  warmed  with  the  most  tender  re- 
collections. He  was  the  shepherd  of  the  flock  when  we  were  the 
lambs  of  the  fold.  By  his  office  and  ministry  many  of  us  were, 


51 

by  our  parents,  consecrated  to  God  in  the  sacred  ordinance 
of  baptism.  From  his  lips  we  heard  the  first  gospel  sermons  of 
which  we  have  any  recollections ;  and  for  myself,  I  would  say 
that  the  first  sermon,  the  subject  of  which  I  remember,  was  from 
him,  on  Ezekiel's  vision  of  dry  bones. 

I  remember  too  that  he  was  the  first  king  that  summoned  his 
people,  and  marshalled  his  forces,  and  led  them  in  person,  in  a 
desperate  charge  upon  the  army  of  the  subjects  of  king  alcohol ; 
and  leading  that  army  in  person  as  he  did,  the  missiles  of  the  en- 
emy falling  thick  and  fast  about  his  head,  he  received  many  a 
grievous  wound ;  yet  undaunted,  he  pushed  the  battle  to  the 
very  gates  of  the  citadel  of  the  enemy's  stronghold,  and  many 
of  the  subjects  of  king  alcohol  deserted  his  cause,  and  enlisted  in 
the  temperance  army ;  and  the  ball  which  was  then  set  in  mo- 
tion rolled  on,  and  the  result  is,  that  the  enemy  has  received  such 
a  check,  that  to-day  Killingworth  can  boast  that  she  has  not  a 
dram  shop  in  town.  And  if  in  any  instance  any  of  our  inhab- 
itants are  found  intoxicated,  we  have  the  consolation  of  suppo- 
sing that  they  have  been  to  some  neighboring  town  to  obtain  the 
means  of  becoming  so. 

Next  the  beloved  Swift  ministered  to  the  flock.  To  strangers 
that  name  might  seem  a  misnomer;  for  he  was  not  swift  to  speak, 
not  swift  to  adopt  new  measures  or  new  means ;  but  swift  to  run 
to  the  relief  of  the  suffering ;  swift  to  visit  the  chamber  of  the 
sick  and  dying ;  swift  to  aid  in  promoting  every  good  word  and 
work ;  but  he  has  gone  to  his  rest,  and  his  works  follow  him. 

Next  was  heard  on  the  walls  of  Zion  here,  the  sound  of  a 
warning  bell ;  warning  the  voyager  o'er  life's  tempestuous  seas 
of  the  dangerous  breakers  and  shoals  ;  and  many,  by  giving  heed 
to  that  wai-ning,  escaped  shipwreck,  and  have  landed  safely  in 
the  port  of  heaven.  May  that  bell  long  sound  the  warning,  and 
many  yet,  by  heeding  it,  escape  the  danger,  and  be  guided  safely 
to  the  desired  haven.  Next  came  the  Rev.  Lyman,  of  wfyom  we 
were  not  worthy,  and  his  sojourn  here  was  brief.  And  now  our 
prayer  to-day  is,  that  our  faithful  beloved  Miller  may  so  distrib- 
ute to  us  the  bread  of  life,  that  each  may  receive  a  portion  in 
due  season,  so  that  there  may  be  no  spiritual  famishing  here. 
But  I  have  said  enough,  I  fear  too  much.  While  then  we  look 
up  in  thankfulness  to  that  Almighty  being  who  has  graciously 


52 

lengthened  out  our  lives  to  see  this  clay,  we  ask  you  again,  dear 
friends,  to  join  with  us  in  our  thanks  for  all  his  mercies  shown 
to  us. 

The  choir  then  discoursed  sweet  music : — Anthem. 
"  Bless  the  Lord  O  my  soul." 

Dr.  John  Todd  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  then  gave  one  of  his  cha- 
racteristic speeches.  No  report  can  do  it  justice.  He  referred 
to  his  leaving  town  fifty-eight  years  ago,  bare-footed,  and  all  his 
clothes  under  his  arm.  He  recalled  and  presented  before  the 
mind  of  his  hearers  the  old  Church,  and  the  customs  of  the  peo- 
ple in  those  early  days.  He  related  many  pleasing  incidences 
which  kept  the  audience  in  good  humor. 

It  was  a  speech  that  must  be  heard  in  order  to  be  appreciated. 

Singing, — "  What  is  Life." 

After  him,  Gen.  Wm.  S.  Pierson,  of  Windsor,  grandson  of 
Deacon  Abraham  Pierson,  who  was  active  in  Revolutionary 
times,  and  who  held  correspondence  with  all  the  town  boys  who 
were  in  the  field,  having  their  letters  to  which  he  referred,  gave 
the  following 

ADDRESS. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  : 

When  I  received  the  invitation  from  your  Pastor,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Miller,  to  be  present  on  this  occasion,  it  was  accompanied 
with  the  further  request,  that  I  should  say  something  respecting 
my  ancestors,  who  resided  here  for  several  generations  ;  and  also 
of  the  part  taken  by  the  citizens  of  this  town,  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution. 

These  requests  almost  persuaded  me  to  decline  the  invi- 
tation altogether ;  but  when  I  came  to  think  of  the  semi-cen- 
tennial day  of  the  dedication  of  the  old  Church,  of  which  I  had  so 
often  heard  my  father  speak,  I  had  so  strong  a  desire  to  be 
here  to-day,  that  I  accepted  the  invitation  to  be  present  ;  and  on 


53 

the  still  further  request  from  your  pastor,  since  my  arrival,  will 
address  you  for  a  few  minutes. 

Remaining  a  day  in  Clinton,  formerly  Killingworth,  and  part 
of  this  town,  on  my  way  here,  and  visiting  the  old  Cemetery 
there,  I  found  the  grave-stone  of  my  venerated  ancestor,  Rev. 
Abraham  Pierson  ;  and  also  the  memorial  stone,  in  front  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  of  the  founding  of  Yale  College,  of  which 
he  was  the  first  Rector ;  by  which  I  became  reminded  that  he- 
was  a  citizen  of  this  town  befor,e  the  year  seventeen  hundred, 
as  Pastor  of  the  Church,  and  President  of  the  College,  until  the 
time  of  his  death ;  and  also  by  the  inscription  on  the  grave  stone 
of  the  son  of  the  Rector,  to  the  "  Worshipful  Abraham  Pierson," 
I  was  reminded  that  he  was  an  old  Colonial  Magistrate  and  Es- 
quire, who  lived  a  long  and  honorable  life  in  this  town  ;  and 
then  coming  to  Killingworth,  and  visiting  the  Cemetery  of  this 
Parish,  I  found  the  grave-stone  of  Deacon  Dodo  Pierson,  who 
had  moved  from  the  South  Parish  at  an  early  day,  and  passed  a 
long  life  here,  filling  the  offices  of  the  town  and  church ;  and 
also  that  of  the  son  of  Dodo,  Deacon  Abraham  Pierson,  who 
was  Treasurer  of  the  School  and  Ecclesiastical  Societies,  Town 
Clerk,  Selectman,  Captain  of  the  Military  Company,  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  thirty-two  years,  Justice  of  the  Quorum  for 
Middlesex  County  for  five  years ;  and  for  twenty-four  years  rep- 
resentative of  this  town  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut ;  and  there  being  persons  present  and  before  me, 
who  knew  Deacon  Abraham,  I  can  but  realize  that  it  will  be 
surely  "like  carrying  coal  to  Newcastle,"  for  me  to  attempt  to 
say  anything  to  this  audience,  about  the  old  Piersons  of  the  town 
of  Killingworth.  I  will  therefore  say  nothing  further  respecting 
this  part  of  the  request  of  Mr.  Miller,  than  I  shall  have  occasion, 
in  speaking  of  the  services  of  the  soldiers  of  this  town,  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Neither  do  I  propose  to  speak  generally  on 
the  subject  of  the  part,  our  fathers  in  Killingworth  took,  in  the 
war.  Never  having  resided  in  this  town,  and  indeed  having  re- 
sided out  of  the  State  most  of  my  life,  since  my  boyhood,  some 
person  more  familiar  with  your  citizens  and  local  history,  can 
better  do  justice  to  the  subject. 

I  find,  however,  among  the  old  papers  which  have  been  trans- 
mitted from  former  generations  in  our  family,  many  letters,  writ- 


54 

ten  to  and  from  the  soldiers  in  the  field,  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  have  brought  a  few  of  them  with  me,  and  will  occupy 
your  time  a  few  moments  in  reading  some  extracts  from  them. 
These  are  the  original  letters,  not  copies  even,  and  as  they  are 
genuine,  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the  patriotic  sentiments  of  our 
ancestors,  in  that  day  of  our  country's  trial.  In  looking  over 
these  letters  this  morning,  the  inquiry  has  pressed  upon  my 
mind,  whether  this  town  did  no  more  than  its  share  of  service  in 
the  war,  and  if  not,  how  great  must  have  been  the  burden  and 
the  struggle  of  the  whole  country,  in  achieving  our  independence. 
North  Killingworth  was  then  a  small  Parish  of  the  town  of  Kil- 
lingworth,  with  a  rugged  soil,  and  sparse  population,  and  still  are 
found  among  the  names  of  the  soldiers  in  the  field,  the  names  of 
Redfield,  Woodruff,  Turner,  Kelsey,  Stevens,  Hull,  Buel,  Bristol, 
Ward,  Wilcox,  Parmelee,  Seward,  Pierson,  and  indeed  about  all 
the  names  I  have  been  accustomed  to  hear,  as  residents  of  this 
town.  They  were  in  the  service  from  before  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker Hill,  until  the  capitulation  at  Yorktown,  and  the  close  of  the 
war. 

The  first  letter  from  which  I  will  read,  was  written  by  Dea 
con  Dodo  Pierson.  Both  Dodo  and  his  son  Abraham  were  in 
the  field ;  and  it  appears  sometimes  relieved  each  other. 

NEW  HAVEN.  MA  A    17,1777. 
LOVING  WIFE  AND  CHILDREN  : 

*  *  All  the  Continental  troops  are  under  marching  orders 
for  Peekskill,  as  we  are  informed  the  enemy  are  about  to  take 
the  North  River.  We  hear  by  a  correspondence  at  head  quar- 
ters in  this  town,  that  a  detachment  went  from  Ticonderoga  in 

'  O 

disguise,  to  St.  John,  and  have  burnt  the  stores.  I  am  not  un- 
easy ;  our  duty  is  not  hard.  I  would  not  have  my  son  attempt 
to  supply  my  place  until  you  hear  further  from  me.'1  You  see 
the  old  man  was  good  grit.  When  you  hear  a  soldier  say  his 
duty  is  not  hard,  you  may  make  up  your  mind  he  is  a  plucky 
fellow.  I  will  only  read  from  this  letter  one  other  sentence,  cha- 
racteristic of  the  man.  "  I  desire  that  you  would  still  maintain 
family  prayers,  that  our  separate  ejaculations  may  still  find  audi- 
ence at  the  Throne  of  Grace,"  and  sends  his  "  humble  regai'ds" 
to  the  Rev.  Win.  Seward.  It  is  a  fact  of  interest,  that  almost 


55 

every  letter  from  the  different  soldiers,  contains  soine  message  of 
respect  for  Mr.  Seward. 

The  next  letter,  from  which  I  will  read  a  single  sentence, 
was  written  by  Ich'd  Ward,  to  Abraham  Pierson.  It  shows 
Mr.  Ward's  estimate  of  the  services  of  the  old  man.  "  I  believe 
that  through  the  blessing  of  God,  we  shall  have  peace  before 
long.  I  have  seen  your  honored  father  standing  sentry,  which 
made  me  feel  otherwise  at  first,  but  when  I  came  to  consider  the 
grand  cause  he  was  in,  I  found  myself  rejoiced  to  think  that  men 
of  his  age  and  rank  were  willing  to  turn  out ;  and  I  hope  God  in 
his  providence  will  return  him  to  his  family  soon." 

William  Redfield,  Jr.,  wrote  from  Camp  2d  Hill,  New  Mil- 
ford,  that  *  "  It  begins  to  be  a  little  tedious,  lying  in  tents 
these  cold  nights,  and  I  should  like  to  go  home,  but  Capt.  Lacy 
is  not  willing  to  spare  me,  and  I  must  remain,  if  my  country 
needs  my  services. 

Eleazur  Woodruff  wrote  to  Abraham  Pierson,  from  New 
York,  Oct.  18,  1776,  that  *  *  "We  are  encamped  on  York 
Island,  about  eighty  rods  east  from  Mount  Washington,  in  the 
woods.  The  place  is  universally  liked — would  not  exchange 
places  for  any  other  regiment  on  the  Island.  We  have  good 
tents  to  live  in,  straw  to  lay  on,  salt  pork  and  beef,  good  bread, 
plenty,  and  sometimes  a  few  potatoes,  cider  at  seven  coppers  a 
quart,  and  who  can  wish  to  live  better  than  that." 

With  much  experience  with  soldiers,  I  pronounce  Eleazur 
Woodruff  to  have  been  a  good  soldier.  He  was  no  grumbler. 

Abraham  Pierson   wrote  from  Camp  North  Castle,    Nov. 
10,  1776. 
"  HOXOEED  PARENTS  : 

*  *  The  first  week  after  I  came  here,  we  were  ex- 
ceedingly fatigued.  The  enemy  came  within  less  than  half  a 
mile  and  daily  hove  cannon  balls,  which  fell  thick  among  us.  A 
good  Providence  preserved  all  our  regiment,  though  men  were 
killed  all  around  us.  We  were  forced  to  lay  on  our  arms,  in  an 
intrenchment  night  and  day.  One  stormy  night  I  lay  out  and 
was  wet  through.  It  was  very  cold.  I  could  not  dry  my  blan- 
ket the  next  day,  and  took  cold.  The  enemy  have  gone  back 
now,  and  we  are  more  at  peace.  I  have  had  the  entire  charge  of 
the  company,  as  there  has  been  no  other  officer  here." 


56 

Abraham  Piersou  also  wrote  from  Camp,  at  Rye,  New  York, 
that  *  *  "  Whether  I  shall  ever  be  so  happy  as  to  return 
home,  the  Lord  only  knows.  Should  I  indulge  in  thoughts  of 
home,  perhaps  it  might  cause  discontent,  but  I  am  sensible  it  is 
necessary  I  should  stay,  and  I  am  content."  *  * 

We  are  all  aware  of  the  patriotic  spirit  exhibited  by  the 
women  of  our  country,  during  the  Avar  of  the  rebellion,  not  only 
in  providing  for  the  wants  of  the  men  in  the  field,  following 
them  to  the  camp  and  hospital,  and  nursing  the  sick  and  wound- 
ed, but  also  in  the  greater  sacrifice,  perhaps,  of  encouraging 
their  brothers,  lovers  and  husbands  to  enlist,  when  they  believed 
the  country  required  their  services. 

This  lends  me  to  read  a  single  sentence  from  a  letter  of  Pam- 
aris  Pierson,  written  from  Killingworth,  to  her  brother  Abraham, 
when  in  the  field. 

"Father  and  mother  desire  to  be  remembered  to  you, 
for  they  are  greatly  exercised  and  troubled  on  your  account,  and 
desire  to  hear  from  you,  and  I  hope  you  will  come  home,  as  soon 
as  possible,  without  being  very  mean,  for  I  greatly  desire  to  see 
you."  *  * 

This  sister's  devoted  love  did  not  induce  her  to  ask  her 
brother  to  do  a  mean  act,  in  coming  home,  much  as  she  desired  to 
see  him. 

During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  some  of  our  men  in  the 
army,  felt  that  unkind  and  unreasonable  things  were  said  by 
those  at  home.  Human  nature  seems  to  have  manifested  the 
same  depravity,  in  the  days  of  our  revolutionary  struggle. 

Ich'd  Ward  wrote  from  Cam])  Valley  Forge,  Jan.  18,  1778, 
to  Abraham  Pierson,  *  *  "I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  uneasi- 
ness there  seems  to  be  at  home,  concerning  the  soldiers.  It 
seems,  by  what  I  can  understand,  that  some  ;:re  very  uneasy 
becausc  we  have  not  killed  all  the  enemy.  They  wonder  what 
we  are  about — forty  shillings  a  month — and  nothing  to  do.  I 
wish  that  some  men  were  to  undergo  half  as  much  as  one  of  us 
has  this  winter,  in  long  marches — lying  on  our  arms,  in  open 
field  and  half  starved;  Xow  concerning  our  great  wages,  what 
expenses  are  we  at  for  everything — half  a  crown  for  a  quart  of 
cider — one  dollar  for  a  pound  of  butter,  &c..  Xow  what  becomes 
of  our  forty  shillings."  *  * 


57 

As  early  as  Sept  11,  A.  D.  1775,  Joseph  Wilcox  wrote  to 
Abraham  Pierson  from  Camp  Roxbury,  that  *  *  "  I  am  de- 
prived of  the  privileges  I  enjoyed  at  home,  and  I  know  how  to 
prize  them,  but  I  am  willing  to  undergo  anything,  to  preserve 
our  rights  and  privileges  to  myself  and  others."  *  * 

On  the  22d  day  of  February,  A.  D.  1776,  Samuel  Ward 
wrote  to  Abraham  Pierson  from  Camp  Roxbury  that  *  * 
"  We  are  ready  to  go  at  a  moment's  warning.  We  shall  have  a 
bloody  battle,  whenever  we  go  there.  I  am  very  Avell  contented 
to  stay  and  fight  for  my  country,  for  I  believe  it  the  duty  of 
every  man  to  come  down,  in  this  day  of  trouble.  Our  duty  is 
very  hard.  No  man  that  comes  down  here  and  sees  the  havoc 
these  red  dogs  have  made,  can  go  home  before  he  sees  the  coun* 
try  relieved  from  these  rascals.  For  my  part,  I  intend  to  stay 
and  risk  my  life  for  my  country.  My  life  is  dear  to  me,  as  any 
other  man's,  but  my  life  is  but  a  trifle  to  my  country's  lib- 
erty." *  * 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen — Was  not  Sam  Ward  a  patriot  ?  3 

On  the2d  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1775,  Job  Seward  wrote 
from  Camp  Roxbury,  to  Abraham  Pierson. 

"Mr  WOKTIIY  FKIEND: 

When  I  think  of  home,  I  look  over  into  Boston,  and 
I  see  our  enemy  stand  ready  to  slay  every  one  of  us,  or  to  make 
slaves  of  us  all,  and  I  give  myself  qontentment  to  be  here,  for  if 
I  know  my  own  heart,  I  had  rather  risk  my  life  in  battle,  than 
to  risk  my  country  and  the  many  privileges  of  a  sacred  and  civil 
nature,  that  we  have  enjoyed  in  times  past."  *  * 

Citizens  of  Killingworth,  what  think  you  of  Job  Seward? 
Are  you  not  proud  of  your  ancestors  ? 

In  times  of  great  trial,  moved  by  deep  feelings  and  patriotic 
emotion,  men  from  whom  you  would  not  under  other  circumstan- 
ces expect  it,  express  lofty  sentiments,  and  perhaps  in  verse.  As 
early  as  in  seventeen  hundred  and  seventy-six,  Abraham  Pierson 
prepared  for  the  singing  school  some  verses,  which  I  will  read, 
which  were  sung  by  the  choir, 


58 

"  O  Liberty  !  how  sweet  the  sound — 
How  dreadful  is  it  to  be  bound, 
In  tyrant's  chains — oppressed  by  those, 
Who  are  our  souls'  and  bodies'  foes. 

The  sword  is  drawn  against  our  land, 
To  make  us  yield  to  their  command, 
Which  are  unholy  and  unjust, 
Therefore  refuse  them  all,  we  must. 

How  far  exceeds  the  martyr's  death, 
Who  for  his  country  spends  his  breath. 
The  life  of  him,  who  rather  see, 
His  country  bound  in  slavery. 

O,  may  the  God  who  rules  above, 
Look  on  our  country,  and  in  love, 
Descend  victorious,  on  our  part, 
That  we  may  pierce  the  tyrant's  heart. 

May  whigs  have  blessings,  which  may  be, 
Transmitted  to  posterity  ; 
May  every  tory  ever  dwell 
Within,  or  near  the  gates  of  Hell." 

During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  it  became  ray  duty  to  com- 
mand the  Depot  for  confinement  of  captured  rebel  officers,  to  the 
number  of  seven  thousand.  Among  them  were  men  who  had 
been  members  of  the  Legislatures  of  the  different  States — Judges 
of  the  Courts  of  the  State — Governors  of  the  State — Senators  and 
Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States — Officers  of 
the  Army,  who  had  been  educated  at  West  Point,  at  the  expense 
of  the  United  States,  and  men  who  had  taken  oath  after  oath  to 
support  the  Constitution,  and  yet  all  leprous  with  treason,  and 
dripping  with  warm  blood,  were  captured  fighting  against  the 
United  States :  and  when  I  saw  the  manifestation  of  their  rualisc- 

*  O 

nant  joy,  at  some  of  the  reverses  of  our  arms,  in  the  dark  days  of 
the  war,  I  used  to  find  myself  repeating  these  last  lines,  which  I 
had  learned  in  my  childhood,  changing  the  word  tory  to  rebel : 

May  every  rebel  ever  dwell 
Within,  or, 


59 

and  I  would  stammer  over  the  word  "  near,"  and  I  fear  at  the 
expense  of  the  metre,  and  not  having  the  charity  of  my  old 
grandfather,  leave  it  out,  and  leave  these  rebels  without  mercy, 
"  within  the  gates  of  hell."  But  that  day  is  passed,  and  we  will 
all  be  magnanimous  and  forgiving  now. 

I  said  that  deep  patriotic  emotion  led  persons  sometimes  to 
express  their  feelings  in  verse.  This  is  true  of  another  passion. 
Do  the  young  ladies  before  me  desire  to  know  how  the  girls  of 
this  revolutionary  period  expressed  themselves  ?  If  so,  I  will 
read  for  your  especial  benefit,  and  your  grandmothers  must  not 
listen. 

"  Your  absence  grieves  me  to  the  heart ; 
I  cannot  bear  with  you  to  part — 
For  I  with  grief  am  sore  oppressed, 
That  night,  nor  clay  I  take  no  rest. 

"  You  have  my  heart,  oh  sir,  be  kind, 
And  leave  another  heart  behind, 
And  then  shall  I  most  happy  be, 
When  I  your  face  with  favor  see." 

No  wonder  Abraham  Pierson  wrote  in  verses.  If  such 
bright-eyed  girls,  as  I  see  here,  had  written  to  me  in  this  manner, 
when  I  was  young,  I  am  sure  I  should  have  imitated  my  grand- 
father in  writing  verses,  however  I  may  fall  short  in  other  re- 
spects. This  letter  is  not  signed  by  Lydia  Redfield,  my  grand- 
mother, and  I  may  read  the  name  of  some  other  grandmother, 
unless  you  excuse  me  from  reading  the  signature  to  this  letter. 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN  : 

This  is  a  great  and  glorious  country,  extending  from  the 
blue  waters  of  Erie  and  Superior  to  the  phosphorescent  waters 
of  Mexico ;  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific ;  variegated  and 
adorned  with  beautiful  lakes  and  rivers,  with  extended  plain  and 
prairie,  with  grand  old  forests,  with  smiling  valley  and  fertile 
hill  and  lofty  mountain  ;  abounding  in  exhaustless  mines  of  rich- 
est mineral  and  metal ;  embracing  every  variety  of  soil  and  cli- 
mate and  production  ;  the  broad  savannas  of  the  South  furnish- 
ing the  raw  material,  which,  manufactured  by  the  busy  industry 
of  the  East,  both  the  East  and  the  South  are  fed  by  the  over- 


60 

flowing  granery  of  the  West — all  contributing  to  the  common 
wealth  and  greatness.  Under  this  free  government  of  ours,  our 
resources  have  developed  with  a  rapidity  of  progress,  such  as  the 
world  has  never  before  witnessed.  The  "  desert  has  been  made 
to  bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose."  Where  but  a  few  years  ago, 
in  the  beautiful  language  of  Mr.  Wirt,  "  in  these  lakes  and  in  these 
rivers,  the  red  man  gathered  his  fish,  and  hunted  his  game,"  there 
are  now  the  cultivated  field,  the  thriving  village,  the  refined  and 
wealthy  city.  Instead  of  heathen  rites  and  savage  orgies,  tem- 
ples like  yours  have  been  erected,  with  spire  pointing  toward 
Heaven,  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God.  Our  inter- 
nal traffic  is  greater  than  that  of  any  other  nation;  and  our  for- 
eign commerce  in  the  interchange  of  its  commodities,  in  vessels 
with  richly  laden  cargoes,  propelled  by  that  invention  of  modern 
days,  of  amazing  power,  in  imprisoned  steam,  or  by  God's  own 
breath  against  the  white  sail,  seeks  every  port,  in  the  fulfillment 
of  its  mission.  We  achieved  our  independence  after  a  seven 
year's  war,  in  which  our  fathers  in  Killing  worth  took  so  honor- 
able a  part ;  and  years  after  we  met  the  proud  mistress  of  the 
sea  on  her  own  chosen  element,  and  there  caused  our  rights  to  be 
respected  and  acknowledged,  wherever  our  flag  floats  from  the 
mainmast  in  the  breeze.  While  such  was  our  proud  position 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  the  philanthropist  of  every 
country  and  clime  was  casting  his  longing  eye,  to  this  "  star  of 
empire  of  the  West,"  rejoicing  that  this  free  government  of  the 
people,  was  exercising  such  a  beneficent  mission  among  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth,  we  found  that  our  institutions  were  subject  to 
another  test.  Constitutional  government  and  constitutional  lib- 
erty was  then  put  on  trial,  and  it  remained  to  be  seen,  whether 
those  institutions,  which  had  been  sufficient  for  the  arts  of  peace, 
under  which  we  had  advanced  to  greatness  and  to  glory ;  which 
had  proved  a  sure  defense  against  a  foreign  foe,  would  have  a  self- 
sustaining  power,  or  whether  we  should  perish  by  our  own  inter- 
nal dissentions  and  divisions;  by  domestic  feuds  and  border  war- 
fare; by  treason  and  rebellion;  until  the  name  of  our  republic, 
like  those  of  the  old  world,  should  only  be  known  by  its  sad 
career,  and  bloody  downfall ;  and  our  name,  like  theirs,  become 
the  argument  of  tyrants,  for  a  further  oppression  of  the  subject. 
To  put  down  such  a  rebellion,  required  the  union  of  all  loyal 


61 

hands,  and  loyal  hearts,  and  loyal  means,  and  loyal  men  ;  but 
we  cut  through  every  obstacle  and  institution,  and  every  oppo- 
sing race,  or  color  of  men,  whether  black,  or  white,  or  yellow,  or 
red,  till  the  majesty  of  our  government  was  vindicated,  and  every 
where  acknowledged. 

In  the  gathering  of  our  armies  for  this  great  conflict,  the 
American  Eagle,  that  proud  bird,  emblem  of  our  nationality, 
hovered  over  them,  in  their  encampment,  and  on  their  marches, 
and  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight ;  his  bright  eye  flashing  fire,  as  it 
caught  our  glittering  guns,  leading  them  onward,  till  victory 
perched  upon  our  standard,  and  the  stars  and  the  stripes  waving 
aloft,  proclaimed  the  triumph  of  republican  liberty.  Then  it  was, 
that  this  nation  stood  forth  as  the  great  exemplar  of  equal  rights 
to  all  mankind.  Then  it  was,  that  it  became  true  in  verity  and 
fact,  as  well  as  theory,  in  the  language  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
*dependence,  that  "all  men  ai'e  created  ,equal — endowed  by  their 
Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights,  among  which  are  life,  lib- 
erty, and  the  pursuit  of  happiness."  It  was  a  prophetic  vision  of  the 
greatness  and  glory  and  liberty  of  our  country,  which  put  it  in 
the  heart  of  Joseph  Wilcox,  while  enduring  the  hardships  of  the 
field,  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  to  feel  and  say,  "  I  am  willing  to 
undergo  anything  to  preserve  our  rights  and  privileges  to  myself 
and  others ;"  and  of  Samuel  Ward  to  say,  "  for  my  pai't  I  in- 
tend to  stay  and  risk  my  life  for  my  country.  My  life  is  as  dear 
to  me  as  any  man's,  but  my  life  is  but  a  trifle  to  my  country's 
liberty."  And  of  Job  Seward  to  say,  "  If  I  know  my  own  heart, 
I  had  rather  risk  my  life  in  battle,  than  to  risk  my  country  and 
the  many  privileges  of  a  sacred  and  civil  nature,  that  we  have  en- 
joyed in  times  past."  And  of  Abraham  Pierson  to  say  "I  am 
sensible  it  is  necessary  I  should  stay,  and  I  am  content."  Im- 
mortal honor  to  the  memory  of  our  patriot  fathers  ! — Everlasting 
thanks  for  these  patriotic  words  of  theirs,  which  have  been  pre- 
served to  us  until  this  day. 

Rev.  Mr.  Bell,  former  Pastor,  followed  in  a  few  remarks — 
showing  that  he  had  still  an  interest  in  the  Church. 

Hymn  composed  for  the  Anniversary  by  Mrs.  Amanda  V. 
Evavts,  in  the  74th  your  of  her  age : 


62 


H  Y  M  IV 


Thy  people  long  ago 

This  house  of  worship  rais'd, 
O  God  of  mercy,  now 

Let  thy  Great  Name  be  praised ; 
For  sure  this  temple  long  has  stood, 
To  shew  the  builders'  zeal  for  God. 

What  wonders  have  been  wrought 

Within  this  sacred  place ! 
How  many  wanderers  brought 

To  seek  the  Savior's  face  ; 
Like  the  foundation  ever  sure, 
The  storms  and  tempests  to  endure. 

The  worthy  men  of  God 
Who  built  this  structure  strong, 

Now  sleep  beneath  the  sod  ; 
Their  souls  have  joined  the  throng 

Who  need  no  earthly  temple  now 

In  which  to  praise  as  here  below. 

Who  shall  the  story  tell 

Of  two  score  years  and  ten, 
The  mighty  change  reveal 

Recall  the  past  again  ? 
Ye  who  for  half  a  century  long 
Within  these  walls  have  raised  your  song 

As  years  have  rolled  around, 

God  has  his  people  blessed, 
The  Church  His  mercy  found, 

Though  oft  with  fear  distressed ; 
The  Holy  Spirit  has  been  given 
To  lead  repentant  souls  to  Heaven, 


63 

Pastors  to  guide  this  flock, 
The  Heavenly  Shepherd  gave, 

Who  lov'd  the  sacred  work, 
And  sought  our  souls  to  save, 

And  lead  to  Christ  the  living  vine, 

"  Like  stars  forever  shall  they  shine."* 

From  souls  here  born  again, 
The  news  has  spread  around, 

Of  Jesus'  love  to  men, 
The  islands  heard  the  sound ; 

From  here  COAN,  beloved  name, 

With  tidings  of  salvation  came. 

From  hence  that  man  of  Godf 

With  great  revivals  blest, 
Told  of  the  Savior's  blood 

To  thousands  East  and  West ; 
He  now  in  Heaven,  before  the  throne, 
Ascribes  the  praise  to  God  alone. 

Dear  sacred  house  of  prayer, 

Within  thy  blest  abode 
May  souls  God's  mercy  share 

By  his  rich  grace  bestowed ; 
And  still  may  every  blessing  flow, 
For  years  to  come,  as  long  ago. 


The  meeting  was  closed  by  the  singing  of  an  Anthem  by 
the  Choir — and  the  Doxology  by  the  Congregation. 


BENEDICTION. 


*  Daniel  12,  3.  t  Rev.  Asahel  Nettleton,  D.  D. 


64 

Thus  closed  a  delightful  day — a  day  long  to  be  remembered 
by  all  who  participated  in  its  enjoyments,  but  especially  by  the 
members  of  this  Church  and  Society,  for  the  words  of  cheer  spo- 
ken— for  the  happy  social  regathering  of  friends,  and  for  the 
hope  inspired  that  the  future  of  this  Church  may  be  as  bright — 
as  honorable,  as  the  past  has  been. 


NOTES. 


1. — Names  of  those  who  belonged  to  the  Choir  fifty  years  ago,  aud  who 
sang  at  the  fiftieth  anniversary. 

Mr.  Rufus  Redfield,  Mrs.  Reuben  Hinckley,    Mrs.  Nathan  Griswold, 

Henry  Hull,  Esq.,  Mrs.  Abel  Wilcox,  Mrs.  Ely  Stevens, 

Capt.  Jerry  Parmelee,  Mrs.  Ezra  Rutty,  Mrs.  Hezekiah  Child, 

Col.  Jedediah  Stone,  Mrs.  Jerry  Parmelee,        Mrs.  Rufus  Crane, 

Mr.  Nelson  Hall,  Mrs.  Chauncy  Parmelee,  Mrs.  Alanson  Lyndes. 

3. — Residences  of  the  first  settlers. 

Isaac  Kelsey,  Esq.,  lived  on  Cow  Hill,  a  few  rods  east  of  Mr.  Loomiw's. 
Deacon  Josiah  Hull  lived  on  Cow  Hill,  west  of  Mr.  R.  Hinckley's.  Deacon 
Joseph  Wilcocks  lived  on  Tower  Hill,  just  north  of  Col.  Stone's.  Daniel 
Buel  lived  where  Mr.  Sherman  Stevens  now  lives.  Joseph  Griswold  lived 
in  the  south  west  district,  a  few  rods  east  of  Mr.  Nathan  Griswold's.  Na- 
thaniel Parmelee  lived  near  the  house  of  Andrew  Brooks.  Ebenezer  Hull 
lived  near  where  Maj.  Stevens  now  lives.  Samuel  Stevens  lived  on  Tower 
Hill,  near  the  house  of  Mr.  Reynolds.  Edward  Rutty  lived  on  Parker's 
Hill.  Theophilus  Redfield  lived  on  Chestnut  Hill. 

3. — Names  of  the  memorialists  for  a  new  Society. 

Joseph  Wilcox,  Peletiah  Ward,  Theophulus  Redfield, 

Daniel  Buel,  Lemuel  Parmelee,  Ephraim  Kelsey, 

Benjamin  Turner,  Nathaniel  Hull,  Daniel  Redfield, 

Samuel  Stevens,  Nathan  Kelsey,  Nathaniel  Wilcox, 

Nathaniel  Buel,  John  Nettleton,  Matthias  Kelsey, 

Josiah  Parmelee,  Nathaniel  Parmelee,  Stephen  Kelsey, 

Abel  Wilcox,  Timothy  Chittenden,  Benjamin  Carter, 

4. — Names  of  the  original  members  of^  the  Church. 

Edward  Rutty,  Josiah  Hull,  Elizabeth  Hull, 

Samuel  Stevens,  Joseph  Griswold,  Temperance  Griswold, 

Nathaniel  Parmelee,  Benjamin  Griswold,  Abagail  Griswold, 

Timothy  Chittenden,  Joseph  Willcocks,  Rebecca  Willcocks, 

Nathaniel  Hull,  Benjamin  Turner,  Martha  Turner, 

Josiah  Parmelee,  Daniel  Buell,  Elizabeth  Buell, 

Peletiah  Ward,  Nathan  Kelsey,  Hannah  Kelsey, 

Abijah  Willcocks,  Abel  Wilcocks,  Martha  Wilcocks, 

Nathaniel  Buell,  Lemuel  Parmelee,  Sarah  Parmelee, 

Daniel  Rutty,  Jeremiah  Stevens,  Concurrence  Stevens, 

Jonathan  Hodgkin,  John  Lane,  Experience  Lane, 


Daniel  Lane, 
Nehemiah  Parmelee, 
Joseph  Buell, 
Jonathan  Willcocks, 
Hannah  Willcocks, 
Bathsheba  Clark, 


66 

Jemima  Lane, 
Hannah  Parmelee, 
Anna  Buell, 
Experience  Willcocks, 
Priscilla  Redfield, 
Hannah  Nott, 


Jane  Kelsey, 
Ruth  Willcocks, 
Elizabeth  Roggers, 
Remember  Stevens, 
Widow  John  Willcocks. 


Total 50. 


5. — Prices  for  other  articles  were  as  follows  : 


"Wheat  per  bushel, 

Rye 

Indian  Corn,    " 

Oats, 

Beef,  per  cwt. 


£ 
0 
0 
0 


d. 

0 
4 
6 

6        Butter, 


£ 

Tallow,  tried,  per  Ib.     0 
Wool,  0 

Flax,  0 


0      10 


Cheese, 


s. 
0 
1 
0 

0        0 
0        0 


6. — Names  of  College  Graduates : 

William  Seward,  Aaron  II.  Kelsey,  Martin  Wilcox, 

John  Punderson  Seward,William  S.  Pierson,          Luther  Hull, 
Asahel  Nettlcton,  Alvin  Parmelee,  Sylvester  W.  Turner, 

Philander  Parmelee,        Josiah  Pierson,  John  Wilcox. 

Henry  Lord,  Ebenezer  II.  Wilcox, 

Two,  also,  while  pursuing  their  studies  at  Yale  College,  died:— "Ely 
Kelsey,  son  of  Aaron  Kelsey.  He  died  April  26, 1788,  aged  25  years,  want- 
ing thirty-two  days." 

"  A  vigorous  application  to  the  Academical  studies,  early  finished  a  life 
devoted  to  learning  and  religion.  His  benevolence  and  integrity,  and  his  ex- 
emplary piety  endeared  him  to  his  friends,  to  the  seminary  and  to  the  church 
of  God,  and  enabled  him  to  die  in  so  heavenly  a  manner,  and  to  recommend 
religion  to  all,  and  make  every  one  wish  to  have  died  in  his  stead. 

In  Christo,  mea  vita  latet;  mea  Gloria  Christus,  in  uno  Jesu  omnia." 

Written  by  President  Stiles. 

Reuben  Wilcox  :  "  College  Education  partly  completed ;  died  in  the 
anorning  of  Mfe,  Nov.  18,  1788,  aged  24. 

Youth  blooming :  Learn  your  mortal  state,  how  swift  your  life,  how 
short  the  date. 

Via  lethi  ab  omnibus  tentanda." 

7. — Names  of  those  who  have  entered  the  ministry : 


William  Seward, 
Asahel  Nettleton, 
Josiah  Pierson, 
George  Coan, 


Philander  Parmelee. 
Martin  Wilcox, 
Henry  Lord, 
Alvin  Parmelee, 


Titus  Coan, 
John  Wilcox, 
Eben.  H.  Wilcox. 


Ill     I    I       ••     " 

A     000105661     3 


67 
:8. — Number  of  admissions  to  Mr.  Coaii's  church,  from  1837  to  1863: 


1825  to  1837 84 

1838 539 

1839 5244 

1840 1499 

1841 154 

1842 273 

1843 331 

1844 306 

1845-6 553 

1847 117 

1848 186 

1849  265 

1850..     .  164 


1851 169 

1852 192 

1853 442 

1854 176 

1855 95 

1856 83 

1857 105 

1858 81 

1859 . ...  48 

1860 51 

1861 106 

1862 72 

1863..    ..  57 


Total, 11,491. 


